The spectral element method for elastic wave equations: Application seismic problems to 2D and 3D

Dimitri Komatitsch, Jeroen Tromp, Jean Pierre Vilotte

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a spectral element method to simulate elastic wave propagation in realistic geological structures involving interfaces and steep topography for 2D and 3D geometries. The spectral element method is a high-order variational approximation of the elastic wave equation. The mass matrix is diagonal by construction, which drastically reduces the computational cost. The time discretization is based on a Newmark scheme written in a predictor/multi-corrector format. A spatial sampling of approximately 4 or 5 points per wavelength is found to be very accurate. This fact is demonstrated by comparing the computed solution to the analytical solution of the classical 2D problem of an explosive source in a half-space. The flexibility of the method is illustrated by studying a realistic two-dimensional model with steep topography (mountain ranges). The method is also shown to provide an efficient tool for studying the diffraction by 3D topography and the associated effects on ground motion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes
Event1998 Society of Exploration Geophysicists Annual Meeting, SEG 1998 - New Orleans, United States
Duration: Sep 13 1998Sep 18 1998

Other

Other1998 Society of Exploration Geophysicists Annual Meeting, SEG 1998
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period9/13/989/18/98

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The spectral element method for elastic wave equations: Application seismic problems to 2D and 3D'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this