Wave propagation in semi-infinite media with topographical irregularities using Decoupled Equations Method

In this paper, a novel semi-analytical method, called Decoupled Equations Method (DEM), is presented for modeling of elastic wave propagation in the semi-infinite two-dimensional (2D) media which are involved surface topography. In the DEM, only the boundaries of the problem are discretized by specific subparametric elements, in which special shape functions as well as higher-order Chebyshev mapping functions are implemented. For the shape functions, Kronecker Delta property is satisfied for displacement function. Moreover, the first derivatives of displacement function with respect to the tangential coordinates on the boundaries are assigned to zero at any given node. Employing the weighted residual method and using Clenshaw–Curtis numerical integration, coefficient matrices of the system of equations are transformed into diagonal ones, which leads to a set of decoupled partial differential equations. To evaluate the accuracy of the DEM in the solution of scattering problem of plane waves, cylindrical topographical features of arbitrary shapes are solved. The obtained results present excellent agreement with the analytical solutions and the results from other numerical methods. •A novel semi-analytical method is presented for modeling of elastic waves.•Semi-infinite 2D media involved surface topography is considered.•Only the boundaries of the problem are discretized by specific subparametric elements.•Special shape functions and higher-order Chebyshev mapping functions are implemented.•Coefficient matrices of the system of equations are transformed into diagonal ones.