Hybrid Method Combines Transfinite Interpolation with Series Expansion to Simulate the Anti-Plane Response of a Surface Irregularity

Abstract

AbstractThe responses to an incident plane SH wave on or near a surface irregularity which is embedded in an elastic half-plane are investigated. The surface irregularity represents a canyon, an alluvial valley or a hill. The wave function expansion method has been employed to solve surface irregularities, such as a semi-cylindrical canyon, a semi-cylindrical alluvial valley, or a semi-elliptical canyon and a semi-elliptical alluvial valley. These solutions to the scattering problem of SH wave can be used to test the accuracy of the other numerical methods. But solutions for surface irregularities with arbitrarily shapes cannot be found easily. A hybrid method combines the finite element method with series expansion is applied to solve scattering problems in this study. A subregion encloses the surface irregularity with a semi-circular auxiliary boundary can be meshed by the finite element method. By using the transfinite interpolation (TFI) produces excellent grid mesh on the subregion. The advantage of TFI is the flexibility to facilitate modeling of the subregion. On the other hand, the boundary data can be formulated by using a series representation with unknown coefficients. The Lamb's solution which satisfies the traction free condition and the radiation condition at infinity is implemented to be the basis function. The unknown coefficients can be obtained by satisfying the continuity conditions of the semi-circular auxiliary boundary between the subregion and the half-plane. The hybrid method that combines TFI with series expansion is successfully herein to solve the scattering problem by a surface irregularity. Numerical results in this study for special cases agree well with those in the published literatures. In this study, the steps and skills of hybrid method are described systematically and completely to solve the surface irregularity.