An analytical, numerical, and experimental study of Rayleigh wave scattering for internal vertical crack evaluation

•Verification of analytical surface wave scattering model by an internal vertical crack.•Subsurface cracks are characterized using response variation data.•Double-sided bounce impacting system provides consistent high-impact energy.•Experimental response variation result presents reliable and consistent data. This paper describes an analytical, numerical, and experimental study of surface wave scattering for an internal vertical crack (SWS-IVC). The analytical model of SWS-IVC is validated through comparison with parametric studies based on dynamic finite element (FE) simulations and experimental measurement. The results of the study allow for the demonstration of crack depth estimation understanding response variation curves, which are the wave response ratio of scattering waves to incident waves according to specific wave frequency and crack geometry. In addition, the study advances the crack evaluation based on the SWS-IVC model leveraging relative wave energy attenuation obtained from arrayed air-coupled MEMS sensors.