Exact free-field response for underwater half-space analysis to oblique 3D seismic waves

Abstract

The seismic behavior of underwater half-space under arbitrary 3D incidence of P- or SV-waves is analyzed by the 2.5D finite/infinite element method. Firstly, the 3D responses of solid and liquid in free field are newly derived exactly, which cover both the sub- and super-critical conditions. Then, the equivalent seismic forces acting on the solid boundary of the 2.5D finite/infinite element method are merely computed from the free-field displacement for given earthquakes. Subsequently, the equation of motions for the underwater half-space under arbitrary 3D incident seismic waves are established in the 2.5D finite/infinite element system, with the key parameters specified. The proposed method was verified against the previous 2D solutions and inversely computed free-field solutions in frequency domain. Major conclusions drawn from the present analysis include: (1) The effects of liquid, concerning enlargement, reduction or disturbance, on the seabed responses become stronger for increasing liquid depth under sub-critical condition; (2) The seabed interior responses are less sensitive to the variation in liquid depth under super-critical condition; and (3) Under the super- and sub-critical conditions, respectively, more attention should be given to the interior response for P-waves and to the seabed surface response for SV-waves.