Finite-element modelling of elastic wave propagation and scattering within heterogeneous media
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Published version
Author(s)
Van Pamel, A
Sha, G
Rokhlin, SI
Lowe, MJS
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The scattering treated here arises when elastic waves propagate within a heterogeneous medium defined by random spatial fluctuation of its elastic properties. Whereas classical analytical studies are based on lower-order scattering assumptions, numerical methods conversely present no such limitations by inherently incorporating multiple scattering. Until now, studies have typically been limited to two or one dimension, however, owing to computational constraints. This article seizes recent advances to realize a finite-element formulation that solves the three-dimensional elastodynamic scattering problem. The developed methodology enables the fundamental behaviour of scattering in terms of attenuation and dispersion to be studied. In particular, the example of elastic waves propagating within polycrystalline materials is adopted, using Voronoi tessellations to randomly generate representative models. The numerically observed scattering is compared against entirely independent but well-established analytical scattering theory. The quantitative agreement is found to be excellent across previously unvisited scattering regimes; it is believed that this is the first quantitative validation of its kind which provides significant support towards the existence of the transitional scattering regime and facilitates future deployment of numerical methods for these problems.
Date Issued
2017-01-31
Date Acceptance
2016-11-25
Citation
Royal Society of London. Philosophical Transactions A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 2017, 473 (2197), pp.1-21
ISSN
1364-503X
Publisher
The Royal Society
Start Page
1
End Page
21
Journal / Book Title
Royal Society of London. Philosophical Transactions A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Volume
473
Issue
2197
Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Authors.
Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
NDE Research Association Ltd
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.2016.0738
Grant Number
EP/K034332/1
N/A
EP/L022125/1
EP/F017332/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
elastodynamics
wave scattering
stochastic finite elements
heterogeneous media
MULTIPLE-SCATTERING
SEISMIC-WAVES
POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIALS
DIFFERENCE SIMULATIONS
ULTRASONIC-ATTENUATION
LAYERED MEDIA
VELOCITY
CRUST
2-D
elastodynamics
heterogeneous media
stochastic finite elements
wave scattering
General Science & Technology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
20160738
Date Publish Online
2017-01-01