Scattering of a pulse by a cavity in an elastic half-space

Abstract

The finite difference technique is employed to study plane strain scattering of pulses from finite anomalies embedded in an isotropic, homogeneous, elastic half-space. In particular, the scatterer is taken to by a cylindrical cavity. A new transmission boundary condition is developed which transmits energy conveyed by Rayleigh surface waves. This condition is successfully employed in reducing the domain of numerical calculations from a semi-infinite to a finite region. A test of the numerical scheme is given by considering a time harmonic pulse of infinite extent. The numerical technique is marched out in time until transients have radiated away and a steady state solution has been reached which is found to be in good agreement with results produced by a series type solution. Time domain solutions are given in terms of time histories of displacements at the half-space free surface; and by sequences of snapshots, taken of the entire numerical domain, which illustrate the scattering dynamics.