Rayleigh wave at the surface of a general anisotropic poroelastic medium: derivation of real secular equation

A secular equation governs the propagation of Rayleigh wave at the surface of an anisotropic poroelastic medium. In the case of anisotropy with symmetry, this equation is obtained as a real irrational equation. But, in the absence of anisotropic symmetries, this secular equation is obtained as a complex irrational equation. True surface waves in non-dissipative materials decay only with depth. That means, propagation of Rayleigh wave in anisotropic poroelastic solid should be represented by a real phase velocity. In this study, the determinantal system leading to the complex secular equation is manipulated to obtain a transformed equation. Even for arbitrary (triclinic) anisotropy, this transformed equation remains real for the propagation of true surface waves. Such a real secular equation is obtained with the option of boundary pores being opened or sealed. A numerical example is solved to study the existence and propagation of Rayleigh waves in porous media for the top three (i.e. triclinic, monoclinic and orthorhombic) anisotropies.