Academic literature on the topic 'WKBJ-approximation'

We have applied the modified Airy function (MAF) method to the analysis of an anharmonic oscillator, characterized by the potential V(x) = k x2/2 + a x4, k > 0, a > 0. The MAF method gives an accurate closed-form expression for the wave function as well as very accurate eigenvalues with much less numerical effort than the five-term (eighth-order) WKBJ approximation. The application of the first-order perturbation correction to the MAF eigenvalues makes them even more accurate than those obtained by the five-term WKBJ approximation.

The global linear stability of incompressible, two-dimensional shear flows is investigated under the assumptions that far-field pressure feedback between distant points in the flow field is negligible and that the basic flow is only weakly non-parallel, i.e. that its streamwise development is slow on the scale of a typical instability wavelength. This implies the general study of the temporal evolution of global modes, which are time-harmonic solutions of the linear disturbance equations, subject to homogeneous boundary conditions in all space directions. Flow domains of both doubly infinite and semi-infinite streamwise extent are considered and complete solutions are obtained within the framework of asymptotically matched WKBJ approximations. In both cases the global eigenfrequency is given, to leading order in the WKBJ parameter, by the absolute frequency ω0(Xt) at the dominant turning pointXtof the WKBJ approximation, while its quantization is provided by the connection of solutions acrossXt. Within the context of the present analysis, global modes can therefore only become time-amplified or self-excited if the basic flow contains a region of absolute instability.

This work addresses the dispersion of Love wave in an isotropic homogeneous elastic half-space covered with a functionally graded layer. First, the general dispersion equations are given. Then, the approximation analytical solutions of displacement, stress and the general dispersion relations of Love wave in both media are derived by the WKBJ approximation method. The solutions are checked against numerical calculations taking an example of functionally graded layer with exponentially varying shear modulus and density along the thickness direction. The dispersion curves obtained show that a cut-off frequency arises in the lowest order vibration model.

In the geometrical-optics approximation for the Helmholtz equation with a point source, traveltimes and amplitudes have upwind singularities at the point source. Hence, both first-order and higher-order finite-difference solvers exhibit formally at most first-order convergence and relatively large errors. Such singularities can be factored out by factorizing traveltimes and amplitudes, where one factor is specified to capture the corresponding source singularity and the other factor is an unknown function smooth near the source. The resulting underlying unknown functions satisfy factored eikonal and transport equations, respectively. A third-order Lax-Friedrichs scheme is designed to compute the underlying functions. Thus, highly accurate first-arrival traveltimes and reliable amplitudes can be computed. Furthermore, asymptotic wavefields are constructed using computed traveltimes and amplitudes in the WKBJ form. Two-dimensional and 3D examples demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithms, and the constructed WKBJ Green’s functions are in good agreement with direct solutions of the Helmholtz equation before caustics occur.

The application of the Born approximation to the scattered wave field, followed by a WKBJ and far‐field approximation on the propagation Green’s function for a slowly varying background medium, leads to a simple integral relation between the density and bulk‐modulus anomalies superimposed on the background medium and the scattered wave field. An iterative inversion scheme based on successive back‐projections of the wave field is used to reconstruct the two acoustic parameters. The scheme, when applied to data generated using the direct integral relation, shows that the variations of the parameters can be reconstructed. The procedure is readily applicable to actual data, since every iterative step is essentially a prestack Kirchhoff migration followed by the application of the direct Born approximation and far‐field operator.

The P wave propagation in the functionally graded materials (FGM) is studied. The differential equation with varied-coefficient of wave motion in the FGM is established. By using of the WKBJ approximation method, the differential equation with varied-coefficient is solved, and the closed-analytical solutions of displacement in the FGM are obtained. The properties of the FGM whose shear modulus and mass density are gradually varying in exponential form are calculated; the curves of P wave velocity and amplitude, and the general properties of the P wave in the FGM are analyzed.

2007/2008
In this thesis a new methodology for computing synthetic seismograms, complete of the main direct, refracted, converted phases and surface waves, in three – dimensional anelastic lateral heterogeneous media is presented. It is based on the combination of the Modal Summation technique with the Asymptotic Ray Theory. The three – dimensional models are determined by a set of vertically heterogeneous sections (1D structures) that are juxtaposed on a regular grid. The distribution of these sections in the grid is done in such a way to satisfy the condition of applicability of the WKBJ – approximation, i.e. the lateral variation of all the elastic parameters has to be small with respect to the prevailing wavelength. In each knot of the grid a vertically heterogeneous section is located, hence, the values of the phase velocities, of the phase attenuation and of the group velocities are assigned once and for all. Inside the grid the source and the receiver are located, assigning their coordinates by means of a Cartesian reference system introduced in the grid itself. By this way a vertically heterogeneous structure, hence one-dimensional structure, is associated to the source and another to the receiver. The eigenfunctions of these two structures do contribute to the seismogram. The computational scheme is based, besides on the WKBJ - approximation for weak lateral heterogeneities, on the two point ray – tracing algorithm, by means of the bi - dimensional shooting method. It can be summarized as follows: at first the ray connecting two points, the source and the receiver, is computed solving the Cauchy problem for the system of ordinary differential equations governing the phenomenon of the evolution of the ray itself; the system is solved employing the numerical fourth – order Runge – Kutta method. Once the ray is determined, the attenuation is computed along it, solving, once again using the fourth – order Runge – Kutta method, the Cauchy problem for a system of ordinary differential equations that is made up of four equations: three equations for the ray and one equation governing the evolution of the attenuation along the ray itself. Finally, the geometrical spreading is computed considering two more rays that leave the source with an azimuth that is determined increasing and decreasing the azimuth of the characteristic curve of the ray – tracing system (the true ray) by a fixed quantity. The thesis is divided in two main parts, the first contains a theoretical treatment of the above mentioned arguments, so it opens with a brief summary about the generation of synthetic seismograms in one-dimensional structures by mean of the Modal Summation technique and goes on with the introduction of the WKBJ – approximation for treating the lateral heterogeneities. Then, there is the presentation of the numerical procedure used in this work. The second part is devoted to the validation of the new method, so the simulations executed to this aim are shown. It is very important to stress that the computational codes used in this work are still under development. They will be used for verifying and optimizing the results up to now obtained, both in terms of seismic sources and in terms of structural models, in region of the Scotia Arc.
In questa tesi si presenta una nuova metodologia per il calcolo di sismogrammi sintetici completi delle principali fasi dirette, rifratte, convertite ed onde superficiali in mezzi tridimensionali anelastici lateralmente eterogenei, basata sulla Somma Modale (SM) combinata con la Teoria Asintotica dei Raggi (TAR). I modelli tridimensionali sono determinati da un insieme di sezioni verticalmente eterogenee (strutture 1D) che vengono affiancate su una griglia regolare. La distribuzione di dette sezioni nella griglia e’ tale da soddisfare la condizione di applicabilità della approssimazione WKBJ (acronimo dei nomi dei quattro elaboratori della metodologia: Wentzel, Kramers, Brillouin and Jeffreys), cioè la variazione laterale di tutti i parametri elastici deve essere piccola rispetto alle lunghezze d’onda prevalenti. In ogni nodo della griglia e’ collocata una sezione verticalmente eterogenea, sono, quindi, assegnati una volta per tutte i valori della velocità di fase, dell’attenuazione di fase e della velocità di gruppo. All’interno della griglia si collocano la sorgente ed il ricevitore, assegnando le loro coordinate attraverso un sistema cartesiano di riferimento introdotto nella griglia stessa. In questo modo si associa una struttura verticalmente eterogenea, quindi unidimensionale, alla sorgente ed una al ricevitore. Le autofunzioni di queste due strutture contribuiscono al sismogramma. Lo schema computazionale è basato, oltre che sull’approssimazione WKBJ per eterogeneità laterali deboli, sull’algoritmo per il ray-tracing tra due punti, mediante lo shooting-method bidimensionale. Esso può essere riassunto come segue: dapprima si calcola il raggio che unisce i due punti, la sorgente ed il ricevitore, risolvendo il problema di Cauchy per il sistema di equazioni differenziali alle derivate ordinarie che governa il fenomeno dell’evoluzione del raggio stesso; il sistema è risolto per via numerica mediante il metodo di Runge-Kutta del quarto ordine. Una volta che il raggio è determinato, si calcola lungo esso l’attenuazione, risolvendo, ancora una volta mediante il metodo di Runge-Kutta del quarto ordine, il problema di Cauchy per un sistema di equazioni differenziali alle derivate ordinarie che è costituito dal sistema che governa l’evoluzione del raggio più una quarta equazione che governa l’evoluzione dell’attenuazione lungo il raggio stesso. Infine, il geometrical spreading è calcolato considerando due ulteriori raggi che partono dalla sorgente con un azimuth 5 che è determinato aumentando e diminuendo l’azimuth della curva caratteristica del sistema (raggio vero) di un valore fissato. La tesi è divisa in due parti principali, la prima parte contiene una trattazione teorica degli argomenti precedentemente menzionati, si apre quindi con un breve riassunto sulla generazione di sismogrammi sintetici in strutture unidimensionali mediante la tecnica della Somma Modale e prosegue con l’introduzione dell’approssimazione WKBJ per la trattazione delle eterogeneità laterali. Si passa poi alla presentazione della procedura numerica utilizzata. La seconda parte è dedicata alla validazione del nuovo metodo, dunque sono presentate le simulazioni eseguite a questo scopo. E’ da sottolineare che i codici di calcolo utilizzati, attentamente testati e ripetutamente validati, sono in continuo sviluppo. Essi verranno utilizzati per la verifica e l’ottimizzazione dei risultati fin qui conseguiti, sia in termini di sorgenti sismiche che di modelli strutturali, nella regione dell’Arco di Scotia.
XXI Ciclo
1977