Investigation of surface instability in an elastic anisotropic cone by the use of surface waves of weak discontinuity (Q1576528)

The authors investigate the surface instability in an elastic circular cone made of a hexagonal single crystal. The surface instability is related to nonstationary disturbances generated by the propagation of two weak discontinuities (nonstationary Rayleigh waves, and ``whispering gallery type'' waves). It is assumed that the cone axis coincides with the axis of crystal isotropy. The results show that the characteristics of the waves are very sensitive to tensile or compressive stresses in the surface layer of the elastic cone. The authors demonstrate that it is possible to derive the stress magnitude inside the cone from the information about the surface behaviuor (surface velocities, introduced damping, etc.) which could constitute an important criterion in seismological investigations.