Recently, a formula for the Rayleigh wave speed in an isotropic elastic half-space has been given
by Malischewsky and a detailed derivation given by the present authors. This study deals with the
generalization of this formula to orthotropic elastic materials and Malischewsky's formula is recovered as a
special case. The formula is obtained using the theory of cubic equations and is expressed as a continuous
function of three dimensionless material parameters. ?? Springer 2005.
