Abstract: Transmission and energy distribution characteristics of Rayleigh waves in layered ground were important for Rayleigh wave test.Three kinds of shallow three-layered ground models,regular ground,ground with hard interlayer,soft interlayer and representative soils and layers were established.Transmission and energy distribution character of Rayleigh waves in these models were discussed,and oscillation of Rayleigh waves in time-domain at ground surface was calculated as simulated SASW(Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves) test data by the transfer matrix method.It was shown that dispersion test curve was consistent with the energy-dominant mode(s) of theoretical dispersion curves,and the SASW test was suitable for most kinds of shallow ground with different soil and layer characteristics.This research may be used as guidance for SASW field tests and back-calculation.