Reflection of inhomogeneous plane waves at the surface of a thermo-poroelastic medium

SUMMARY We analyse the reflection coefficient of an inhomogeneous plane wave incident on the thermally insulated surface of a thermo-poroelastic medium. The theory, which includes the classic Lord-Shulman (LS) and Green-Lindsay (GL) theories as well as a generalization of the LS model, predicts three inhomogeneous longitudinal waves and one transverse wave, described by potential functions specified by the propagation direction and inhomogeneity angle. The GL model can give a stronger P1-wave thermal attenuation and consequently a stronger velocity dispersion than the LS model. We investigate the influence of inhomogeneity angle, type of incident wave, frequency and surface boundary conditions. The generalized LS model exhibits increased P1-wave thermal attenuation with increasing Maxwell–Vernotte–Cattaneo relaxation time and consequently predicts more interference energy, irrespective if the surface is open or sealed. The inhomogeneity angle affects the energy partitions particularly near the grazing incidence, with a significant interference energy, which must be taken into account to satisfy the energy conservation. The thermal dispersion occurs at frequencies around the thermal relaxation peak, which moves to low frequencies when the conductivity increases.