Ebook: Wave Propagation in Viscoelastic and Poroelastic Continua: A Boundary Element Approach

In this book, a numerical method to treat wave propagation problems in poroelastic and viscoelastic media is developed and evaluated. The method of choice is the Boundary Element Method (BEM) since this method implicitly fulfills the Sommerfeld radiation condition. The crucial point in any time-dependent BEM formulation finding time-dependent fundamental solutions is overcome employing the Convolution Quadrature Method. This quadrature rule makes it possible to establish a boundary element time-stepping procedure based on the known Laplace domain fundamental solutions for viscoelastic and poroelastic continua. Using this method, e.g., tremors produced by earthquakes or machines can be pre-calculated and subsequent buildings prevented from such disturbances.