Purpose
This paper is concerned with the study of the propagation of Rayleigh waves in a homogeneous isotropic, generalized thermoelastic medium with mass diffusion and double porosity structure using the theoretical framework of three-phase-lag model of thermoelasticity.
Design/methodology/approach
Using Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory and normal mode analysis technique, this paper solves the problem. The medium is subjected to isothermal, thermally insulated stress-free, and chemical potential boundary conditions.
Findings
The frequency equation of Rayleigh waves for isothermal and thermally insulated surfaces is derived. Propagation speed, attenuation coefficient, penetration depth and specific loss of the Rayleigh waves are computed numerically. The impact of nonlocal, void and diffusion parameters on different physical characteristics of Rayleigh waves like propagation speed, attenuation coefficient, penetration depth and specific loss with respect to wave number for isothermal and thermally insulated surfaces is depicted graphically.
Originality/value
Some limiting and particular cases are also deduced from the present investigation and compared with the existing literature. During Rayleigh wave propagation, the path of the surface particle is found to be elliptical. This study can be extended to fields like earthquake engineering, geophysics and the degradation of old building materials.