Abstract
The Rayleigh wave velocity for a polycrystalline aggregate of cubic crystals with orthorhombic symmetry is derived. Use is made of the formalism of Roe (1966) for treating the texture of polycrystalline aggregates. It is shown that surface wave velocity measurements can be combined with the normal shear wave birefringence technique to give a texture independent determination of the difference in principal stresses. The accuracy of the theory is demonstrated for rolled aluminium and steel plates.