Rayleigh wave dispersion due to a distribution of semi-elliptical surface-breaking cracks

A model describing changes of Rayleigh wave velocity caused by distributions of two-dimensional, surface-breaking cracks is presented. The results are obtained by extending an approach recently presented by the same author [C. Pecorari, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 100, 1542-1550 (1996)] for the analogous problem concerning distributions of one-dimensional cracks. The method developed in the previous article to evaluate the effective elastic constants of a cracked surface is presented here again and its assumptions are discussed in greater detail. A comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental results is also presented. (C) 1998 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-4966(98)05002-4].