Numerical Simulation of Seismic Transverse Waves on the Interface Between an Elastic Medium and Saturated Frozen Soil

Abstract

This study employed the theory of elastic wave propagation in frozen saturated porous media and single-phase elastic media to analyze the complex dynamics of plane-S-wave incidence at the interface between elastic media and saturated frozen soil. By considering the boundary conditions on the interface, analytical expressions for the amplitude coefficients of refracted and reflected waves were derived. The results indicate that the amplitude coefficients of refracted P₂, P₃, and S₂ waves gradually increase with the increasing incident angle. An intriguing observation is the disappearance of the reflected P wave at the critical angle, accompanied by the apparent pulses of refracted P₁ and S₁ waves. The study reveals a positive correlation between the amplitude coefficient of refracted S₁ waves and porosity, while it exhibits a negative correlation with other parameters. The amplitude coefficient of refracted S₁ waves accounts for over 90% of the sum of the amplitude coefficients of refracted and reflected waves. Furthermore, the research highlights the significant impact of various parameters on the amplitude coefficients of shear waves. Changes in incident frequency, cementation parameters, saturation, and contact parameters were identified as crucial factors significantly affecting the coefficients of refracted and reflected amplitudes. This nuanced study deepens our understanding of the complex interactions involved in the propagation of elastic waves in frozen saturated porous media, providing valuable insights for applications in geotechnical and geological engineering, as well as related fields.