Transient fundamental solutions for a transversely isotropic elastic half space

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the study of transient response of a transversely isotropic elastic half-space under internal loadings and displacement discontinuities. Governing equations corresponding to two-dimensional and three-dimensional transient wave propagation problems are solved by using Laplace–Fourier integral transforms and Laplace−Hankel integral transforms, respectively. Explicit general solutions for displacements and stresses are presented. Thereafter boundary-value problems corresponding to internal transient loadings and transient displacement discontinuities are solved for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems. Explicit analytical solutions for displacements and stresses corresponding to internal loadings and displacement discontinuities are presented. Solutions corresponding to arbitrary loadings and displacement discontinuities can be obtained through the application of standard analytical procedures such as integration and Fourier expansion to the fundamental solutions presented in this article. It is shown that the transient response of a medium can be accurately computed by using a combination of numerical quadrature and a numerical Laplace inversion technique for the evaluation of integrals appearing in the analytical solutions. Comparisons with existing transient solutions for isotropic materials are presented to confirm the accuracy of the present solutions. Selected numerical results for displacements and stresses due to a buried circular patch load are presented to portray some features of the response of a transversely isotropic elastic half-space. The fundamental solutions presented in this paper can be used in the analysis of a variety of transient problems encountered in disciplines such as seismology, earthquake engineering, etc. In addition these fundamental solutions appear as the kernel functions in the boundary integral equation method and in the displacement discontinuity method.