Abstract
In this paper the influence of the gravity field, relaxation times and initial stress on propagation of Rayleigh waves in an orthotropic magneto-thermoelastic solid medium has been investigated. The solution of the more general equations are obtained for thermoelastic coupling by Helmoltz’s theorem. The frequency equation which determines Rayleigh wave velocity have been obtained. Many special cases are investigated from the present problem. Numerical results analyzing the frequency equation are obtained and presented graphically. Relevant results of previous investigations are deduced as special cases from these results. The results indicate that the effect of initial stress, magnetic field and gravity field are very pronounced.