Modal and characteristics-based approaches for modeling elastic waves induced by time-dependent boundary conditions

In this paper, we present a characteristics-based approach for solving elastic wave problems with time-dependent traction boundary conditions. A generalized mathematical model for this important class of problems is expressed as a set of first-order, linear, hyperbolic partial differential equations. We analyze the mathematical structure of this first-order linear system, verify its hyperbolicity, derive its characteristic form, and deduce its eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and Riemann invariants. The eigenvalues correspond to the wave speeds, while the Riemann invariants are used to construct a solution by the method of characteristics.     

Laser excitation of a fracture source for elastic waves

We show that elastic waves can be excited at a fracture inside a transparent sample by focusing laser light directly onto this fracture. The associated displacement field, measured by a laser interferometer, has pronounced waves that are diffracted at the fracture tips. We confirm that these are tip diffractions from direct excitation of the fracture by comparing them with tip diffractions from scattered elastic waves excited on the exterior of the sample. Being able to investigate fractures-in this case in an optically transparent material-via direct excitation opens the door to more detailed studies of fracture properties in general.     

Theory of elastic waves

Wave processes in real crystals are described by covariant first-order partial differential equations. Naimi and Khzardzhyan [1] have recently shown that the second-order equations $$\Delta u^{(n)} - c_n^{ - 2} \partial ^2 u^{(n)} /\partial t^2 = 0$$ ,     

Fringe waves radiated by a half-plane for the boundary conditions of Neumann

The fringe waves of the physical theory of diffraction are obtained in terms of Fresnel integrals for a half-plane satisfying the Neumann boundary condition. The approximate expressions of the radiated waves are also evaluated for sufficiently large wavenumbers. The fields are plotted and compared numerically.     

Nonreflecting boundary conditions for discrete waves

We introduce a new class of nonreflecting boundary conditions for lattice models, which minimizes reflections at artificial boundaries. Exact integrodifferential boundary conditions for finite chains and half-spaces are obtained by means of Green’s functions for initial value problems. Truncating the resulting integrals in time, we obtain absorbing boundary conditions. Numerical tests illustrate the ability of these conditions to suppress reflections.     

Excitation of seismoacoustic waves by a harmonic force source acting at the boundary of a liquid layer and an elastic halfspace

A problem on the excitation of seismoacoustic waves in a system of a homogeneous isotropic elastic halfspace covered with a liquid layer is solved in the case of action of a source of point harmonic force on the surface of an elastic medium. Integral expressions are obtained for the radiation powers averaged over a wave period for longitudinal and transverse waves in a solid. Mode excitation is analyzed in detail. Expressions describing parts of the mode powers radiated into a liquid layer and an elastic medium are obtained. Numerical analysis of radiation powers is conducted for spherical longitudinal and transverse waves as well as for the radiation powers of seismoacoustic modes in a solid halfspace and a liquid layer. It is determined that in the conditions characteristic of bottom rocks in the case, where the basin depth is several times and more larger than the sound’s wavelength, about 2/3 of the total power is radiated into a liquid.     

Generation of elastic waves in a laminated solid by a moving photothermal source

The steady state response of an elastic layered plate (laminate) which is subjected to a moving laser source illumination is studied. The response of the laminate is obtained using the transfer matrix approach. The application of the photo-thermal source (laser) to the upper surface of the laminate is formulated as equivalent stresses applied at the illuminated boundary. The equivalent stresses are derived with the use of the causality principle. It is shown that the generated displacement field is sensitive to the variations of the laminate inner structure and also to the variations of the elastic properties of a bonded elastic half-space.     

Energy distribution between seismic waves of different types produced in an elastic half-space by a source with an arbitrary radiation pattern

The energy distribution between different types of seismic waves produced by a source of longitudinal and transverse waves with an arbitrary radiation pattern in an elastic half-space is considered. With an appropriate choice of the angular distribution functions, this source can model an earthquake source. A direct theoretical comparison of the energy distributions of seismic waves generated by an underground explosion and an earthquake is carried out. Analytical relationships that describe the dependence of the energy distribution between different types of waves on the parameters of the medium and the source are derived.     

Excitation of an elastic half-space by a buried line source of conical waves

A formal solution is obtained to the problem of a buried line source of conical waves propagating at a constant phase velocity c in an isotropic elastic half space. By applying the boundary conditions at the free surface, it is determined that the reflected field, in addition to the incident field, requires addition of a scalar potential and two components of the vector potential. The latter is in contrast to the case of cylindrical waves where only one component of the vector potential is needed. The formal solution for the conical wave source goes over to that for the two dimensional cylindrical wave case in the limit of infinite phase velocity c.     

Propagation of longitudinal elastic waves in a fluid-saturated porous medium with spherical inclusions

The Frenkel-Biot theory is used to study the propagation of a longitudinal harmonic wave of the first kind in an isotropic porous matrix with inclusions contrasting in elastic properties and hydrodynamic permeability. The generation of elastic waves of the second kind at the boundaries of inclusions is taken into account. The effective wave number of the longitudinal wave is calculated using the equations of multiple scattering theory. The characteristic size of inhomogeneities is assumed to be much greater than the size of pores. The parameters of the model used for calculations correspond to sandstone with centimeter-scale inhomogeneities. The presence of such inhomogeneities is typical of sedimentary rocks. Calculations show that, in the frequency range of acoustic logging, the effective attenuation factor of the longitudinal wave may noticeably exceed the attenuation factors of longitudinal waves of the first kind in both matrix and inclusions. From the results obtained, it follows that, when studying the propagation of elastic waves in fluid-saturated porous media, it is necessary to take into account the hydrodynamic effects associated with the filtration overflows that arise at the boundaries of inhomogeneities.     

The radiation power of elastic waves excited in a solid half-space by a subsurface time-harmonic source

The method of Fourier transforms is used to solve the problem of excitation of longitudinal, transverse, and Rayleigh surface waves by a time-harmonic point source placed in a homogeneous isotropic, perfectly elastic half-space and acting along the normal surface. Expressions for the time-average radiation powers of the aforementioned waves are obtained by the method of radiation reaction without using any approximations. The distribution of radiation power over different types of waves depending on their velocities and the source’s depth is investigated in detail.     

Theoretical model of phase exclusion conditions for the sum-frequency wave produced by a nonlinear acoustic source

A theoretical model of the sum-frequency wave field produced by a nonlinear acoustic source with three-frequency pumping is reported. The model allows for the dissipation and diffraction of the Gaussian beam. The sum-frequency wave is represented within the second-order approximation as a superposition of two synchronous copropagating waves with equal frequencies. It is shown that the spatial and amplitude-phase characteristics of the sum-frequency wave are affected not only by the amplitude-phase relations in the pumping spectrum, but also by the diffraction-caused variations in amplitudes and phases of the primary waves. This dependence is most clearly seen under the phase exclusion conditions, when the generation of the sum-frequency wave is actually suppressed (excluded) owing to the appropriate choice of the amplitude and phase pumping spectra. The theoretical results are found to agree well with experimental data. The possible practical applications of the phase exclusion conditions are as follows: inspection of inhomogeneous media, detection of objects near interfaces, reduction of nonlinear attenuation, acoustic measurements, etc.     

Parametric scattering of high-frequency elastic waves by a small spherical cavity oscillating under the action of a Rayleigh wave

Scattering of high-frequency transverse and longitudinal plane waves incident on a spherical cavity located at a small depth under the surface of a half-space is considered. The cavity oscillates as a whole in the field of a low-frequency Rayleigh surface wave, the oscillation vectors of the longitudinal, transverse, and surface waves being coplanar. The cavity radius is assumed to be small compared to the wavelengths of the sounding wave and the pumping surface wave. The scattered compression and shear waves at the combination frequencies ω±Ω are calculated in the dipole approximation. Expressions obtained describe the qualitative behavior of the combination-frequency signal levels produced at the outputs of horizontally and vertically oriented geophones moving over the free surface of the elastic half-space.     

Amplitude-modulated acoustic radiation force experienced by elastic and viscoelastic spherical shells in progressive waves

The dynamic acoustic radiation force resulting from a dual-frequency beam incident on spherical shells immersed in an inviscid fluid is examined theoretically in relation to their thickness and the contents of their interior hollow regions. The theory is modified to include a hysteresis type of absorption inside the shells' material. The results of numerical calculations are presented for stainless steel and absorbing lucite (PolyMethyMethacrylAte) shells with the hollow region filled with water or air. Significant differences occur when the interior fluid inside the hollow region is changed from water to air. It is shown that the dynamic radiation force function Yd deviates from the static radiation force function Yp when the modulation size parameter deltax = mid R:x2 - x1mid R: (x1 = k1a, x2 = k2a, k1 and k2 are the wave vectors of the incident ultrasound waves, and a is the outer radius of the shell) starts to exceed the width of the resonance peaks in the Yp curves.     

A generalized approach to the solution of variable systems subjected to arbitrary source functions and boundary conditions

Under study are layered inhomogeneous systems with or without forcing functions as represented by sources and boundary conditions. Under a forced or unforced state, such systems pervade the fields of sound and vibration. A common formulation to the constraints and physical laws that apply is given by using the Fredholm integral equation. A unified and versatile solution is developed analytically to treat these problems under forced or unforced conditions. Then the approach is dissected to implement the results on the computer or to treat, at the outset, the lumped approximation of the distributed system. This development modifies, extends, and generalizes previous studies that have been applied to a restricted class of systems. Here the treated systems need not be limited to those describable by a strictly bilinear or symmetric Green function. Also, the source function and boundary conditions are not limited to those of special type or form. Throughout, examples are given to introduce, motivate and illustrate the analysis.     

The propagation of in-plane P-SV waves in a layered elastic plate with periodic interface cracks: exact versus spring boundary conditions

The propagation of in-plane (P-SV) waves in a symmetrically three-layered thick plate with a periodic array of interface cracks is investigated. The exact dispersion relation is derived based on an integral equation approach and Floquet's theorem. The interface cracks can be a model for interface damage, but a much simpler model is a recently developed spring boundary condition. This boundary condition is used for the thick plate and also in the derivation of plate equations with the help of power series expansions in the thickness coordinate. For low frequencies (cracks small compared to the wavelength) the three approaches give more or less coinciding dispersion curves, and this is a confirmation that the spring boundary condition is a reasonable approximation at low frequencies.     

Spectral determinant on graphs with generalized boundary conditions

The spectral determinant of the Schr?dinger operator ( - Δ + V(x)) on a graph is computed for general boundary conditions. (Δ is the Laplacian and V(x) is some potential defined on the graph). Applications to restricted random walks on graphs are discussed. Received 9 July 2001