Effects of Contact Area of an Interface on Acoustic Wave Transmission Characteristics

摘要

This paper discusses a new model in which attenuation as well as group velocity changes are explained by a single set of assumptions. The basis of this model is that a joint or fracture represents a displacement discontinuity across which average stresses in seismic waves are continuous but displacements are not. The model is linear elastic so that all material properties are real valued. It is applicable to cases in which the fractures are large in extent but small in thickness compared to the wavelength of the seismic waves. Laboratory experiments were performed in which a single fracture was represented by an interface between two steel cylinders. Measured attenuation of compressional (P) and polarized shear (S) waves was compared with model predictions. (ERA citation 10:026232)