Abstract
In this paper, we investigated the influence of initial stress on the propagation of Rayleigh waves in a homogeneous isotropic, generalized thermo-elastic body, subject to certain boundary conditions. In addition, it is subject to insulating thermal conduction. General solution is obtained by using Hankel transform and Lame' potentials. The frequency equation has been obtained. It has been found that frequency equation of waves contains a term involving the initial stress and relaxation time. Therefore the velocity of Rayleigh waves changes with respect to this initial stress and relaxation time. When the initial stress and relaxation time vanish, the derived frequency equation reduces to that obtained in classical thernno-elastic case. Numerical results are given and illustrated graphically. The results indicate that the effect of initial stress and relaxation time are very pronounced.