Viscoelastic Rayleigh waves in a layered structure with a weak lateral inhomogeneity

Rayleigh waves in an almost layered viscoelastic medium are studied by using the “surface” ray method based on real rays. Viscoelasticity is described in terms of the Maxwell–Boltzmann–Volterra model and, for high frequencies, is treated as perturbed perfect elasticity. In addition to the leading term of the ray asymptotics, which corresponds to the balance of energy along rays, the correction term describing anomalous displacements of the Love type is discussed. Bibl. 10 titles.