Numerical analysis of surface-wave scattering by the boundary element method

Abstract Scattering of a Rayleigh surface wave by a surface-breaking crack is investigated. The crack is inclined under an arbitrary angle with the normal to the free surface of a half-space. The representation integral for the scattered displacement field is employed to obtain expressions for the surface tractions. In conjunction with the conditions on the crack faces and on the surface of the half-space, these expressions yield a set of boundary integral equations, which are solved numerically by the boundary element method. Results for the reflection and transmission coefficients, as well as for the time-averaged energy-flux radiated into the solid by body waves, are presented. Parametrical studies reveal the variation of these results with the angle of inclination of the crack and with the frequency of the incident wave.