Guided waves

Other waves appear and are propagated along surfaces which act like wave guides. These waves are called surface waves or guided waves. The guided waves are mainly Rayleigh waves and Love waves .

The Rayleigh waves have an retrograde elliptical movement of particles in the plan perpendicular to the surface of the direction of propagation.

The Love waves are S waves, horizontally polarized. Direction of polarization being perpendicular to the direction of propagation.

Love waves from cd-rom "Géophysique de gisement et génie civil",
MARI et CHAPELLIER (1999)

In well seismic or acoustic logging, the borehole is a wave guide and we observe there particular waves called Stoneley waves or tube waves.

In land seismic the free face (limit air/formation) gives birth to Rayleigh waves. The alterated zone of surface acts as a guide of waves which gives rise to pseudo-Rayleigh and Love waves.