Scattering of SV waves by a canyon in a fluid-saturated, poroelastic layered half-space, modeled using the indirect boundary element method

The scattering of SV waves by a canyon in a fluid-saturated, poroelastic layered half-space is modeled using the indirect boundary element method in the frequency domain. The free-field responses are calculated to determine the displacements and stresses at the surface of the canyon, and fictitious distributed loads are then applied at the surface of the canyon in the free field to calculate the Green’s functions for displacements and stresses. The amplitudes of the fictitious distributed loads are determined from the boundary conditions, and the displacements arising from the waves in the free field and from the fictitious distributed loads are summed to obtain the solution. The effects of fluid saturation, boundary conditions, porosity, and soil layers on the surface displacement amplitudes and phase shifts are discussed, and some useful conclusions are obtained. It is shown that the surface displacement amplitudes due to saturation and boundary conditions, different porosities, or the presence of a soil layer can be very dissimilar, and large phase shifts can be observed. The resulting wavelengths for an undrained saturated poroelastic medium are slightly longer than those for a drained saturated poroelastic medium; and are longer for a drained saturated poroelastic medium than those for a dry poroelastic medium. As porosity increases, the wavelengths become longer; and a layered half-space produces longer wavelengths than a homogeneous half-space. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.