An Analytical and Numerical Investigation of Rayleigh Wave Scattering by a Surface Defect in Orthotropic Media
Received: 28 October 2025 | Revised: 22 November 2025 | Accepted: 9 December 2025 | Online: 9 February 2026
Corresponding author: Truong Giang Nguyen
Abstract
This study presents a reciprocity-based analytical model for Rayleigh wave scattering by localized surface defects in orthotropic elastic half-spaces. Closed-form expressions for forward and backward scattering amplitudes are derived directly from the elastodynamic reciprocity theorem, linking the scattered field to defect geometry and excitation frequency without numerical discretization. Finite-element comparisons confirmed the accuracy and robustness of the proposed approach across a wide parameter range. The results show that scattering is primarily governed by the defect’s width-to-depth ratio: broader and shallower cavities yield smoother and more stable responses, whereas deeper defects cause slightly stronger discrepancies. The proposed compact formulation offers a clear physical interpretation of wave–defect interaction and practical guidance for Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) in anisotropic and orthotropic media.
Keywords:
Rayleigh wave, orthotropic, reciprocity theorem, wave scattering, nondestructive evaluation, structural health monitoringDownloads
References
R. Al Wardany, J. Rhazi, G. Ballivy, J. L. Gallias, and K. Saleh, "Use of Rayleigh wave methods to detect near surface concrete damage," presented at the 16th World Conference on NDT, Montreal, Canada, 2004.
J. L. Rose, Ultrasonic Guided Waves in Solid Media. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107273610
M. S. Mohammed and K. Ki-Seong, "Chirplet Transform in Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing and Structural Health Monitoring: A Review," Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 3778–3781, Feb. 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.2470
R. Ávila-Carrera, A. Rodríguez-Castellanos, F. J. Sánchez-Sesma, and C. Ortiz-Alemán, "Rayleigh-wave scattering by shallow cracks using the indirect boundary element method," Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, vol. 6, no. 3, May 2009, Art. no. 221. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/6/3/002
A. Rodríguez-Castellanos, R. Ávila-Carrera, and F. J. Sánchez-Sesma, "Scattering of Rayleigh-waves by surface-breaking cracks: an integral formulation," Geofísica Internacional, vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 241–248, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22201/igeof.00167169p.2007.46.4.48
P. H. Dang, L. D. Tho, L. Q. Hung, and D. D. Kien, "Investigation of Rayleigh wave interaction with surface defects," Journal of Science and Technology in Civil Engineering - NUCE, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 95–103, Aug. 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31814/stce.nuce2019-13(3)-09
F. Gilbert and L. Knopoff, "Seismic scattering from topographic irregularities," Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 65, no. 10, pp. 3437–3444, 1960. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ065i010p03437
G. Hévin, O. Abraham, H. A. Pedersen, and M. Campillo, "Characterization of surface cracks with Rayleigh waves: a numerical model," NDT & E International, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 289–297, Aug. 1998. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0963-8695(98)80013-3
W. Hassan and W. Veronesi, "Finite element analysis of Rayleigh wave interaction with finite-size, surface-breaking cracks," Ultrasonics, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 41–52, Jan. 2003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0041-624X(02)00393-1
S. Zhang, Y. Liu, L. Wang, and F. Wang, "Scattering of Rayleigh wave by inclined surface open cracks: Numerical simulations based on reciprocity theorem and verification using finite element method," Applied Mathematical Modelling, vol. 145, Sept. 2025, Art. no. 116147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2025.116147
J. D. Achenbach, Wave Propagation in Elastic Solids: North-Holland Series in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics. North Holland/Elsevier, 2013.
J. D. Achenbach and Y. Xu, "Use of elastodynamic reciprocity to analyze point-load generated axisymmetric waves in a plate," Wave Motion, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 57–67, July 1999. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-2125(98)00050-X
H. Phan, Y. Cho, and J. D. Achenbach, "Application of the reciprocity theorem to scattering of surface waves by a cavity," International Journal of Solids and Structures, vol. 50, no. 24, pp. 4080–4088, Nov. 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2013.08.020
H. Phan, T. Q. Bui, H. T.-L. Nguyen, and C. V. Pham, "Computation of interface wave motions by reciprocity considerations," Wave Motion, vol. 79, pp. 10–22, June 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wavemoti.2018.02.008
S. I. Rokhlin and L. Wang, "Ultrasonic waves in layered anisotropic media: characterization of multidirectional composites," International Journal of Solids and Structures, vol. 39, no. 16, pp. 4133–4149, Aug. 2002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7683(02)00363-3
P. C. Vinh and R. W. Ogden, "On the Rayleigh Wave Speed in Orthotropic Elastic Solids," Meccanica, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 147–161, Apr. 2005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-005-1603-6
D. K. Dao, V. Ngo, H. Phan, C. V. Pham, J. Lee, and T. Q. Bui, "Rayleigh wave motions in an orthotropic half-space under time-harmonic loadings: A theoretical study," Applied Mathematical Modelling, vol. 87, pp. 171–179, Nov. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2020.06.006
C. Yang, B. Wang, Z. Qian, and S. Hirose, "Modified BEM for scattering analysis by a flaw at interface in an anisotropic multi-layered plate," Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, vol. 152, pp. 704–727, July 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enganabound.2023.04.028
S. Li, M. Huang, Y. Song, B. Lan, and X. Li, "Theoretical and numerical modeling of Rayleigh wave scattering by an elastic inclusion," The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, vol. 153, no. 4, Apr. 2023, Art. no. 2336. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0017837
A. Khojasteh, M. Rahimian, M. Eskandari, and R. Y. S. Pak, "Asymmetric wave propagation in a transversely isotropic half-space in displacement potentials," International Journal of Engineering Science, vol. 46, no. 7, pp. 690–710, July 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijengsci.2008.01.007
Downloads
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Hoang Ngoc Quy, Truong Giang Nguyen

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain the copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) after its publication in ETASR with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
