The azimuthal and polar radiation patterns obtained from a horizontal stress applied at the surface of an elastic half space

Abstract

Abstract The body waves and surface waves radiating from a horizontal stress applied at the free surface of an elastic half space are obtained. The SV wave suffers a phase shift of π at 45 degrees from the vertical. Also, a surface wave that is SH in character but travels with the Rayleigh velocity is shown to exist. This surface wave attenuates as r−3/2. For a value of Poisson's ratio of 0.25 or 0.33, the amplitude of the Rayleigh waves from a horizontal source should be smaller than the amplitude of the Rayleigh waves from a vertical source. The ratio of vertical to horizontal amplitude for the Rayleigh waves from the horizontal source is the same as the corresponding ratio for the vertical source for all values of Poisson's ratio.