Thermoelastic surface waves on an exponentially graded half-space

In this paper, we consider the propagation of Rayleigh surface waves in a functionally graded isotropic thermoelastic half-space, in which all thermoelastic characteristic parameters exponentially change along the depth direction. The propagation condition is established in the form of a bicubic equation whose coefficients are complex numbers while the analytical solutions (eigensolutions) of the thermoelastodynamic system are explicitly obtained in terms of the characteristic solutions. The concerned solution of the Rayleigh surface wave problem is subsequently expressed as a linear combination of the three eigensolutions while the secular equation is established in an implicit form. The explicit secular equation is written when an isotropic and homogeneous thermoelastic half-space is considered and some numerical simulations are given for a specific material.

► The Rayleigh surface waves are studied in an isotropic and inhomogeneous thermoelastic half space.
► The propagation condition for inhomogeneous thermoelastic half space is established.
► The secular equation for Rayleigh surface waves is established for inhomogeneous as well as homogeneous half spaces.