The method of fundamental solutions for the elastic wave scattering in a double-porosity dual-permeability medium

Abstract

For materials that have a matrix porosity at the microscopic scale, and an interconnecting fracture system at the mesoscopic scale, the double-porosity dual-permeability model provides a better prediction of seismic wave attenuation than the single porosity model, due to the flow exchange mechanism between these different size pores. The current work offers for the first time a numerical solution tool based on the method of fundamental solutions for problems of 3-D wave scattering and dynamic stress concentration around scatterers, such as cavities and embedded inhomogeneous inclusions, in an infinite double-porosity dual-permeability medium. The method of fundamental solutions is based on the spherical wave potentials representing three compressional waves and one shear wave. The accuracy and stability of the method are tested against other available results, and are demonstrated to be excellent. Wave scattering and dynamic stress concentration problems due to spherical cavity and poroelastic inclusion are then investigated for incident plane P1 and SV waves in the frequency domain. The research shows that the seismic responses are sensitive to the incident frequency, the boundary drainage condition, and material properties such as porosity.