ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates the theory of surface wave propagation in linear elastic and in linear viscoelastic forward modeling. Although the basic theory will be developed for both Love and Rayleigh waves, the main focus will be given to Rayleigh waves because of their greater importance in practical applications of surface waves in exploration geophysics and geotechnical engineering. The chapter is subdivided into five main sections:
Section 2.1 briefly describes some features of two main classes of wave motion, hyperbolic and dispersive waves. Next, the equations of motion in elastic solids and the propagation of body waves in unbounded homogeneous, linear elastic ( isotropic) continua are briefly reviewed. This will allow for the introduction of harmonic waves and waverelated parameters.
