Rayleigh wave scattering from surface features: wedges and down-steps

Abstract

The development of a Rayleigh wave based method of sizing surface defects has been hampered by the lack of a theory to describe the scattering problem. A new mixed finite element-finite difference model, which provides accurate and stable numerical solutions for faceted scattering geometries, has been developed. This paper presents an outline of the model and details of the interaction of Rayleigh waves with wedges and angled down-steps. Numerical visualizations, seismograms and spectral Rayleigh wave-scattering coefficients provide a detailed description of the scattering processes.