Numerical simulation of seismic waves using a discrete particle scheme

Abstract

A particle-based model for the simulation of wave propagation is presented. The model is based on solid-state physics principles and considers a piece of rock to be a Hookean material composed of discrete particles representing fundamental intact rock units. These particles interact at their contact points and experience reversible elastic forces proportional to their displacement from equilibrium. Particles are followed through space by numerically solving their equations of motion. We demonstrate that a numerical implementation of this scheme is capable of modelling the propagation of elastic waves through heterogeneous isotropic media. The results obtained are compared with a high-order finite difference solution to the wave equation. The method is found to be accurate, and thus offers an alternative to traditional continuum-based wave simulators.