Propagation of leaky Rayleigh waves along a curved fluid-solid interface

Area of Science:

• Acoustics
• Solid Mechanics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Leaky Rayleigh waves (LRWs) are crucial for understanding wave propagation at fluid-solid interfaces.
• Curved interfaces introduce complexities in wave behavior compared to planar ones.
• Previous studies often focused on planar interfaces or simpler wave types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To derive and solve the characteristic equation for LRWs on curved fluid-solid interfaces.
• To investigate the influence of curvature on LRW velocity and attenuation.
• To establish a quantitative relationship between curvature, material properties, and LRW attenuation.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of equations of motion for curved solid and fluid media.
• Utilizing displacement potential functions for simplified derivation.
• Application of interface conditions for continuity of mass, momentum, and energy.
• Numerical solution of the characteristic equation using Muller's method.

Main Results:

• LRW velocity exhibits weaker directional dependence on curvature compared to Rayleigh waves at air-solid interfaces.
• LRW attenuation shows strong directional dependence on complex curvatures due to leakage.
• A quantitative relationship between curvature and leakage-induced attenuation is established for various materials.

Conclusions:

• The findings provide a deeper understanding of LRW behavior on curved surfaces.
• The quantitative relationship aids in predicting and controlling wave attenuation in curved structures.
• Results are significant for advancing ultrasonic testing applications in complex geometries.