A4.20

Theoretical Geophysics | Part II, 2002

The equation of motion for small displacements u\mathbf{u} in a homogeneous, isotropic, elastic material is

ρ2ut2=(λ+2μ)(u)μ(u)\rho \frac{\partial^{2} \mathbf{u}}{\partial t^{2}}=(\lambda+2 \mu) \nabla(\boldsymbol{\nabla} \cdot \mathbf{u})-\mu \boldsymbol{\nabla} \wedge(\boldsymbol{\nabla} \wedge \mathbf{u})

where λ\lambda and μ\mu are the Lamé constants. Derive the conditions satisfied by the polarisation P\mathbf{P} and (real) vector slowness s of plane-wave solutions u=Pf(sxt)\mathbf{u}=\mathbf{P} f(\mathbf{s} \cdot \mathbf{x}-t), where ff is an arbitrary scalar function. Describe the division of these waves into PP-waves, SHS H-waves and SVS V-waves.

A plane harmonic SVS V-wave of the form

u=(s3,0,s1)exp[iω(s1x1+s3x3t)]\mathbf{u}=\left(s_{3}, 0,-s_{1}\right) \exp \left[i \omega\left(s_{1} x_{1}+s_{3} x_{3}-t\right)\right]

travelling through homogeneous elastic material of PP-wave speed α\alpha and SS-wave speed β\beta is incident from x3<0x_{3}<0 on the boundary x3=0x_{3}=0 of rigid material in x3>0x_{3}>0 in which the displacement is identically zero.

Write down the form of the reflected wavefield in x3<0x_{3}<0. Calculate the amplitudes of the reflected waves in terms of the components of the slowness vectors.

Derive expressions for the components of the incident and reflected slowness vectors, in terms of the wavespeeds and the angle of incidence θ0\theta_{0}. Hence show that there is no reflected SVS V-wave if

sin2θ0=β2α2+β2\sin ^{2} \theta_{0}=\frac{\beta^{2}}{\alpha^{2}+\beta^{2}}

Sketch the rays produced if the region x3>0x_{3}>0 is fluid instead of rigid.

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