Characterization of inclusion through surface strong ground motion

Steady-state wave motion in a half-space with an elastic inclusion of arbitrary shape subjected to a surface line load is investigated. Material of the half-space and the inclusion is assumed to be linearly elastic, homogeneous, and isotropic. Displacement field is evaluated throughout the elastic media by using a boundary integral method so that the continuity conditions between the half-space and the inclusion are satisfied in the mean square-sense.

Surface displacement results are presented for an elliptic inclusion of arbitrary orientation. A wide range of parameters in the problem is considered. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. Higher frequency of input motion resulted in greater sensitivity of the surface motion to the shape of the inclusion. 2. Difference in surface response for different shapes of inclusion decreases with increased depth of the scatterer. 3. For load not placed directly atop the inclusion, the surface displacement field exhibits different patterns for different inclusions.