Riemann–Hilbert Approach to the Elastodynamic Equation: Part I

Abstract

We develop the Riemann–Hilbert (RH) approach to scattering problems in elastic media. The approach is based on the RH method introduced in the 1990s by Fokas (A unified approach to boundary value problems, CBMS-SIAM, 2008) for studying boundary problems for linear and integrable nonlinear PDEs. A suitable Lax pair formulation of the elastodynamic equation is obtained. The integral representations derived from this Lax pair are applied to Rayleigh wave propagation in an elastic half space and quarter space. The latter problem is reduced to the analysis of a certain underdetermined RH problem. We show that the problem can be re-formulated as a well-determined vector Riemann–Hilbert problem with a shift posed on a torus.