Weak anisotropy-attenuation parameters

Abstract

Velocity anisotropy and attenuation in weakly anisotropic and weakly attenuating structures can be treated uniformly using weak anisotropy-attenuation (WAA) parameters. The WAA parameters are constructed in a way analogous to weak anisotropy (WA) parameters designed for weak elastic anisotropy. The WAA parameters generalize WA parameters by incorporating attenuation effects. They can be represented alternatively by one set of complex values or by two sets of real values. Assuming high-frequency waves and using the first-order perturbation theory, all basic wave quantities such as the slowness vector, the polarization vector, propagation velocity, attenuation, and the quality factor are linear functions of WAA parameters. Numerical modeling shows that perturbation equations have different accuracy for different wave quantities. The propagation velocity usually is calculated with high accuracy. However, the attenuation and quality factor can be reproduced with appreciably lower accuracy. This happens mostly when the strength of velocity anisotropy is higher than 10% and attenuation is moderate or weak [Formula: see text]. In this case, the errors of the attenuation or [Formula: see text]-factor can attain values comparable to the strength of anisotropy or even higher. A simple modification of the equations by including some higher-order perturbations improves accuracy by three to four times.