Study of Numerical Methods in Seismic Problems

Abstract

The authors investigate the application of two numerical methods (finite element and finite difference approximations) toward the ultimate solution of problems involving the propagation of Rayleigh waves generated by an explosion in the atmosphere over an island atoll. Because of mathematical difficulties in these methods, useful calculations of Rayleigh wave spectra at teleseismic distances were not obtained. It appears that the physical constraints of the atoll structure, e.g., abrupt changes in elastic properties in both lateral and vertical directions, require either the application of large and costly computer codes or an advance in the present state of the art in numerical simulation. Examples are offered of numerical solutions to problems which have known analytic solutions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 07, 1972
Accession Number
AD0754212

Entities

People

  • A. F. Peterson
  • C. A. Newton
  • D. W. Mccowan
  • E. A. Flinn
  • E. A. Page

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Boundaries
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computers
  • Continents
  • Contracts
  • Deep Oceans
  • Difference Equations
  • Elastic Properties
  • Elastic Waves
  • Equations
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Language
  • Seismic Waves
  • Shock Waves
  • Wave Equations
  • Wave Propagation

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Seismology
  • Systems Analysis and Design