Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

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Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/soildyn

Dispersion of shear wave propagating in vertically heterogeneous

double layers overlying an initially stressed isotropic half-space
Abhishek Kumar Singh, Amrita Das n, Amares Chattopadhyay, Sudarshan Dhua
Department of Applied Mathematics, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad 826004, Jharkhand, India

art ic l e i nf o

a b s t r a c t

Article history:
Received 29 March 2014
Received in revised form
14 October 2014
Accepted 25 October 2014
Available online 22 November 2014

The present paper investigates the propagation of horizontally polarised shear wave in distinct vertically
heterogeneous double layers overlying an isotropic half-space under horizontal initial stress. The vertical
heterogeneity in the uppermost layer is caused due to quadratic variation only in rigidity, whereas
vertical heterogeneity in the sandwiched layer is caused due to exponential variation in rigidity and
density both. The closed form of velocity equation is obtained which leads to the dispersion equation as
its real part and damping equation as its imaginary part. The validation of dispersion relation with the
classical case is made by using Debye asymptotic expansion which is the major highlight of this study.
The signicant effect of the width ratio of the layers, heterogeneity parameters of both the layers and
horizontal compressive/tensile initial stress on the phase velocity and damped velocity of SH-wave have
been traced out. The comparative study and some important peculiarities have been revealed by means
of graphical illustrations.
& 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords:
SH-wave
Debye asymptotic expansion
Initial stress
Heterogeneity
Dispersion
Seismic wave

1. Introduction
The crust is relatively more heterogeneous than mantle, which
makes the study of wave propagation much practical considering
the heterogeneous layers. There are different sort of vertical
heterogeneity persist in crustal layers in the form of exponential
function, linear function, quadratic function etc. The study of wave
propagation in layered elastic media with different boundaries
helps to understand and predict the seismic behaviour at the
different margins of earth, which makes it applicable in the eld of
geophysics, civil, mechanical, and other engineering branches.
Many researchers had widely studied the theory of Love wave
propagation in a medium where the velocity, rigidity and density
are functions of depth. Kar [1] worked on the propagation of Lovetype waves in a non-homogeneous internal stratum of nite
thickness lying between two semi-innite isotropic media. Love
waves in different heterogeneous layered media were studied by
Gogna [2]. Scattering of SH-waves in multi-layered media with
irregular interfaces have been discussed by Ding and Dravinski [3].
Chattopadhyay et al. [4] discussed the propagation of shear waves
in viscoelastic medium at irregular boundaries. Chattopadhyay
et al. [5] described the effects of point source and heterogeneity on
the propagation of SH-waves. Guz [6] has analysed the three-

Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: abhi.5700@gmail.com (A.K. Singh),
amritadas.ism@gmail.com (A. Das).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2014.10.021
0267-7261/& 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

dimensional linearised theory of elastic waves propagating in

initially stressed solids. He formulated surface waves along planar
and curvilinear boundaries and interfaces, waves in layers and
cylinders, waves in composite materials, waves in hydroelastic
systems, and dynamic problems for moving loads. Chattopadhyay
[7] discussed the propagation of SH-waves in a sandwiched
heterogeneous layer lying between two semi-innite homogeneous elastic media where the heterogeneity in the sandwiched
layer was taken in the form of linearly varying function of depth in
the rigidity and density was kept constant. Bhattacharya [8]
discussed the possibility of the propagation of Love-type waves
in an intermediate heterogeneous layer where the inhomogeneity
was assumed in two different forms; the rst form dealt with the
exponential variation in rigidity and the second was a linear
variation in both rigidity and density. Dutta [9,10] discussed two
problems relating to the propagation of Love-type waves in a nonhomogeneous internal stratum lying between two semi-innite
homogeneous elastic media.
Due to the presence of many physical factors, a large amount of
initial stress evolves in a medium which have a pronounced
inuence on the propagation of waves as shown by Biot [11].
These factors may be overburden layer, variation in temperature,
slow process of creep, gravitational eld, etc. The Earth is a highly
initially stressed medium. Dey and Addy [12] have shown the
effect of initial stresses on the propagation of Love waves by
considering the layer and the half-space to be isotropic elastic in
one case and visco-elastic in another case. Gupta [13] studied the
propagation of Love waves in a non-homogeneous substratum

A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

17

over an initially stressed heterogeneous half-space. Propagation of

Love waves in a non-homogeneous orthotropic elastic layer under
changeable initial stress overlying semi-innite medium was given
by Abd-Alla and Ahmed [14].
Keeping in mind, the existence of different types of heterogeneity in the crustal layers and motivated by the fact that earth is
an initially stressed body, we considered the present problem with
a distinct geometry and heterogeneity conguration not
attempted till now. This problem studies the SH-waves propagating in double layers of nite width having different sort of
heterogeneity overlying an initially stressed isotropic half-space.
The closed form of velocity equation is obtained which leads to the
dispersion equation as its real part and damping equation as its
imaginary part. The validation of dispersion relation with the
classical case is made by using Debye asymptotic expansion which
is the major highlight of this study. The width ratio and heterogeneity parameters of the layers, horizontal compressive initial
stress and horizontal tensile initial stress are found to have a
signicant effect on the phase velocity and damped velocity of SHwaves. The obtained dispersion relation is found to be in well
agreement with the classical Love-wave equation. Comparative
study and graphical illustration has been made to reveal the some
of the important facts.

Now, for the propagation of SH-wave in x-direction and causing

displacement only in the y-direction, we have the displacement
components as

2. Formulation and solution of the problem

2 v

In the present paper we consider two isotropic heterogeneous

layers (M 1 and M 2 ) lying over an initially stressed isotropic
homogeneous half-space (M 3 ) as shown in Fig. 1. Let us consider
x-axis in the direction of wave propagation and along the common
interface of medium M 2 and M 3 . The z-axis of the rectangular
co-ordinate system is pointing vertically downwards. The rigidity
of the uppermost isotropic layer is a quadratic function of depth,
whereas the density is constant. The rigidity and density of the
sandwiched layer are varying exponentially with depth.

u 0;

w0

and

v vx; z; t

Let us consider and be the rigidity and density of the medium

respectively. In the absence of body forces, the only non-vanishing
equation of the motion [11] for the propagation of SH-wave is
given by

2 v
pxy pyz 2 ;
x
z
t

2:1

where
pxy

v
x

and
pyz

v
:
z

For a homogeneous medium, where is constant i.e. independent of the space variables, the equation of motion for propagation
of SH-wave wave in an isotropic homogeneous medium is given by
1 2 v
;
2 t 2

where
2 

2
2
2
2
x z

and

2 :

Fig. 1. Geometry of the problem.

2:2

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A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

If waves propagate in the direction of x-axis with velocity c, we

put
vx; z; t V zeikx  ct :

2:3

So by using Eq. (2.2) in Eq. (2.3), we have

2 V
s2 V 0;
z2
where
s2 k

c2

2:4

2:6

which is the equation of motion for propagation of SH-wave wave

in an isotropic heterogeneous medium.
in Eq. (2.6), we get
Putting vx; z; t V px;z;t
!
 2
2
1 d
1d
2 V
2 V

2:7
V 2
2
4 dz
2 dz
t
We assume the solution of the form
V Z ze

2:8

01

Substituting 1 z in Eq. (2.9), we have

d

2:10

where a k c2 =1 and b  k = .

Again using Z Z 1 in Eq. (2.10) we get

2

d Z1

2 2

k c

1
2 2 :
4
1

!
1

1
 2
4
2
c2

and

02
:
02

therefore
1
A2 cos m2 z B2 sin m2 zeikx  ct
v2 p
02 ez

2:17

2.3. Solution of the lowermost half-space M 3 ;

The lowermost half-space is isotropic with horizontal initial
stress P. The equation of motion for propagation of SH-wave in this
medium is given by


P 2 v3
2 v3
2 v3
3 
3 2 3 2 :
2:18
2
2 x
z
t
Considering v3 x; z; t Z 3 zeikx  ct , Eq. (2.18) reduces to
"
#
2
2 Z 3
2 c


1
Z 3 0;
2:19
z2
2
3

d Z1
dZ 1
2
 2 Z 1 0;
d
d2

m22 k

2:16

where

dZ 1
2
 1 a b Z 1 0:
2:11
d
p
Choosing 1=2 and putting b i in Eq. (2.11), we have

where
2

2 2

which can be rewritten as

Z 2 A2 cos m2 z B2 sin m2 z:

where
r
01
:
1

In sandwiched layer we have considered the rigidity as 2 02 e z

and the density as 2 02 e z ; where is the heterogeneity
parameter with dimension inverse of length, 02 and 02 are the
constants. In view of above, using Z Z 2 (for M 2 ) Eq. (2.7) leads to
"
#
2
d Z2
02 k2 c2 2 1 2

 k  Z 2 0;
2:15
4
02
dz2

The solution of the Eq. (2.16) is given by

In this medium we have considered heterogeneity in rigidity in


2
and the density as a
quadratic fashion i.e. 1 01 1 z
constant, i.e.1 01 , where is a constant with dimension
inverse of length and 01 being the constant. In view of above,
Eq. (2.7) takes the form
"
#
2
2
2 c
2d Z
2
k
 1 z Z 0;
2:9
1 z
dz2
2

a b Z 0;
2

2.2. Solution of the sandwiched layer M 2 ;

where

2.1. Solution of the uppermost layer M 1 ;

2:14

Now, let us assume ui ; vi and wi as the components of

displacement in x; y and z-direction for medium M 1 ; M 2 and M 3
for i1, 2 and 3 respectively.

d Z

d Z2
m22 Z 2 0;
dz2

which leads Eq. (2.7) to

"
#
 
2
d Z
k2 c2 2 1 d 2 1 d2


k


Z 0:
2 dz2

dz2
42 dz

2:5

d v
2 v
2;
dz z
t

ikx  ct?

2:13

where A1 and B1 are arbitrary constants; I and K are modied

Bessel function of the rst and the third kind respectively, both
being of order i .
Hence the solution of the uppermost layer is

  1=2 






1 z
k
k
v1
1 z B 1 K i
1 z
eikx  ct :
A1 I i
p

01

1 :
2

If is a function of space variable z only, then the Eq. (2.1)

becomes

2 v

The solution of Eq. (2.12) is given by

 
 
Z 1 A1 I i B1 K i ;

2:12

P
:
23

Eq. (2.19) can be rewritten in the form

2

Z3
 m23 Z 3 0;
z2
where
m23

1

c2

23

2:20
!

 :

A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

n

Keeping in mind that SH-wave dies out with increase in depth,

the appropriate solution of Eq. (2.20) can be written as
Z 3 A3 e

 m3 z

v3 A3 e  m3 z eikx  ct :

2:22

The boundary conditions are as follows:


2 1
i 01 1 z v
z 0 at z  H 2 ;

The real part of velocity Eq. (2.28) is a dispersion equation whereas

the imaginary part will lead to the damping equation.
Taking the right hand side of Eq. (2.28) as R1 , the above
equation can be written as

01 1 z

iii

v1 v2

iv

02 e z vz2 3 vz3 at z 0 ;

02

at

v2 v3

at

z  H1 ;

z0:




3=2 p 0 k 


p
1  H 1
k 01 K i
1  H 1 
01 1  H 1 1=2 K i
2



qn


k

1  H 1
A2 cos m2 H 1  B2 sin m2 H 1
02 e  H1

B1

m2 A2 sin m2 H 1 B2 cos m2 H 1 g;

R1

1  H 2

k 1

 

H 2 K 0i k

1  H 1

o







2



k

k
1  H 1  1  H 1 I i
1  H 1
 1  H 1 kI 0i








 0 k

k
1  H 2  k 1  H 2 I i
1  H 1
 I i

2

n
2 0  k 
 
 k
o
 1  H 1 kK i 1  H 1  2 1  H 1 K i 1  H 1

hn

 


  
o k

K k 1  H
 k 1  H 2 K 0i k 1  H 1
I i 1  H 2
2
2 i












k
k
k
I
1  H 2  k 1  H 2 I 0i
1  H 1
1  H 2
K i
2 i

02  H1
e
01

1  H 1



k
1  H 1

K i

k

1  H 2


I i



k
1  H 2 K 0i

0;

2:29

02 e  H1

n



o
 2 cos m2 H1 m2 sinm2 H 1 2m
 3 mm32 2sinm2 H1 m2 cosm2 H1
2
02




:
01 cos m2 H1  2m 2  3 mm32 m2 sinm2 H 1

In light of above relation Eq. (2.29) can be written in the form

 




k 2 1  H 2 1  H 2 R1 k 1  H 2 
 
  

 
  

 J i p 1  H 1 Y 0i p 1  H 2  J 0i p 1  H2 K i p 1  H 1

2 

1  H 1 R1
4
2

 
  

 J i p 1  H 1 Y i p 1  H 2

 
  

 J 0i p 1  H 1 Y i p 1  H 2
2
 
  

0;
 J i p 1  H 2 K 0i p 1  H 1

2:25

Eliminating A1 ; A2 ; A3 ; B1 ; B2 from Eqs. (2.23)(2.27) we get



I 0i


2
 
  

2
 k 1  H 2 1  H 1
 J i p 1  H 2 K i p 1  H 1
 
  

 
  

 J 0i p 1  H 1 Y 0i p 1  H 2  J 0i p 1  H2 K 0i p 1  H 1

2:27


2

k

2

I z e  1=2 i J iz;
h
i
K z 12 ie1=2 i J iz iY iz :

 

 

A1 I i k 1  H 1 B1 K i k 1  H 1

p
A2 02 A3 :
k

1  H 1




Now, using the following relations [15]:

and

02

2:24

1
pA2 cos m2 H 1  B2 sin m2 H 1 ;
02 e  H1
o
pn 
A2 m2 B2  3 m3 A3
02
2

where

n
3=2 p 0 k
 p
1=2 k
o
1  H 1
k 01 I i 1  H 1  2 01 1  H 1
I i 1  H 1

 1=2

Using Eqs. (2.14), (2.17) and (2.22) in the boundary conditions,

we obtain the following equations:
n 


o
A1 2I i k1  H 2 k1  H 2 I 0i k1  H 2
2:23
B1 n
k


o ;
0 k

2K i 1  H 2  k1  H 2 K i 1  H 2

01

 
 


 





k
k
k
k
 I0
1  H 1 K 0i
1  H 2 I 0i
1  H 2 K 0i
1  H 1

2.5. Dispersion equation

H 1
1  p

4


z H 1 ;

A1

 
 



k
k
1  H 1 K i
1  H 2
 I i

1  H 1 R1
2

 


2


k
k
2
1  H 2 K i
1  H 1
 k 1  H 2 1  H 1
 I i

e z v2

ii

at

2:28

 




k2 1  H 2 1  H 2 R1 k 1  H 2
 
 


 





k
k
k
k
1  H 1 K 0i
1  H 2 I 0i
1  H 2 K i
1  H 1
 I i

2.4. Boundary conditions

2 v



o
m 
 2 cos m2 H 1 m2 sinm2 H 1 2m
 3 m32 2sinm2 H 1 m2 cosm2 H 1
2
02




;
 3 m3 m sinm H
cos m2 H 1  2m
2
2 1
m2
2
02

2:21

which nally gives

19

1  H 1

2

where
p

ik

For small and 2 4 0 ; it follows:

 2
c2
l
4
;
4
2
where l 2 =k is the wavelength.
Hence, for large wavelength c 4 2 :
Now
1  H 1 2 o 1;
k

2
c

o 1;

2:30

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A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

1  H 2 2 o 1
k

and
k

2
c

o 1:

Now, we use Debye asymptotic expansions of J sec ; Y sec ;

in which the argument is less than the order, both being large [15]
e tan 
J sec  p;
2 tanh

e tan 
Y sec   p
2 tanh

2:31

with this expansion we have

 
  

 
  

J i p 1  H 1 Y 0i p 1  H 2  J 0i p 1  H 2 K i p 1  H 1 


sinh 1
p

tanh 1 tanh 2

h
 exp 1  2  tanh 1  tanh 2


exp  1  2 tanh 1  tanh 2 ;

2:32

 
  

 
  

J i p 1  H 1 Y i p 1  H 2  J i p 1  H 2 K i p 1  H 1
1
 p 
tanh 1 tanh 2

  exp 1  2  tanh 1  tanh 2 exp  1  2

2:33
tanh 1  tanh 2 ;

Fig. 2. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number when

H2 =H 1 1:5; H 1 1:2; 0:1:

 
  

 
  

J 0i p 1  H 1 Y 0i p 1  H 2  J 0i p 1  H 2 K 0i p 1  H 1


sinh 1 sinh 2
p

tanh 1 tanh 2

h
 exp 1  2  tanh 1  tanh 2  exp  1  2

2:34
tanh 1  tanh 2 ;
 
  

 
  

J 0i p 1  H 1 Y i p 1  H 2  J i p 1  H 2 K 0i p 1  H 1


sinh 2
p

tanh 1 tanh 2

h
 exp 1  2  tanh 1  tanh 2 exp  1  2

2:35
tanh 1  tanh 2 ;
where


p 1  H 1 sec 1 ;
Fig. 3. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number when
H2 =H 1 1:5; H1 0:1; 0:1:



p 1  H 2 sec 2 ;
3
s2
c2
H 1  H 2 5
4
;
tanh 1 i
 1 1 c2
22
2 1

and

sinh 2

3
s2
k c2

H

H

1
2
5;
tanh 2 i
 1 41 c 2
22
2 1

tan kH 1  H 2

H 1  H 2 c
;
c2
2
2 1
2

s




c2
1  2  tanh 1  tanh 2 ikH 1 H 2 2 1 ;

sinh 1

s
c2
1
2

Thus, it follows from Eq. (2.30) that

1  2

s
c2
1 :
2

s
c2
1
2



k21  H 1 1  H 2 R1 k1  H2 sinh 1 k21  H1 2 sinh 2
k
1k
 4p
1  H 1 R2p
 1  H 1 2 1  H2 sinh 1 sin 2

Since k sinh 1 s1 and k sinh 1 s2 , we get the following form:



1  H 1 1  H 2 R1 1  H 2 s1 21  H 1 2 s2
tan H 1  H 2 s2 2
;
k
1k
 4p
1  H 1 R2p
 1  H 1 2 1  H 2 s1 s2
2:36

A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

Fig. 4. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number when

H 2 =H1 1:5; H 1 0:1; H1 0:1:

Fig. 5. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number when

H 2 =H1 1:5; H 1 0:1; H1 0:1:

which is the dispersion equation for SH-wave propagating in distinct

vertically heterogeneous double layers overlying an initially stressed
isotropic half-space.

02

Fig. 6. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number when

H1 0:1; H 1 0:1; 0:1:

Fig. 7. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number when

H1 0:1; H 1 0:1; 0:

which is the dispersion equation of SH-wave propagating in a

homogeneous layer lying over an exponentially varying heterogeneous sandwiched layer and an initially stressed half-space.
Case II. When -0, the dispersion Eq. (2.36) takes the form


1  H 1 1  H 2 R2 1  H 2 s1 21  H 1 2 s2
tan H 1 H 2 s2 2
;
k
2k
 4p
1  H1  R2p
 1  H 1 2 1  H 2 s1 s2

3. Particular cases

Case I. When -0, the dispersion Eq. (2.36) reduces to



tan H 1  H 2 s2 02 e  H1  2 cos m2 H 1 m2 sinm2 H 1


o
 3 m3

2m
02 m2 2sinm2 H 1 m2 cosm2 H 1
2



01 s2 2m 2  3 mm32 m2 sinm2 H 1  cos m2 H 1 ;

21

2:38
where
2:37

R2

02 sn2 sin s2 H1  3 m3 cos s2 Ho1

:
01 cos s2 H 1 302ms23 sin s2 H1

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A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

Fig. 8. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number when

H1 0:1; H 1 0; 0:
Fig. 10. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number
and initial stress when H1 0:1; H 1 0:1; H2 =H1 1:5:

Fig. 9. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number when

H1 0; H 2 =H1 1:5; H 1 0; 0:

Eq. (2.38) is the dispersion equation of SH-wave propagating in a

quadratically varying heterogeneous layer lying over a homogeneous sandwiched layer and an initially stressed half space.
Case III. When -0; Eq. (2.36) reduces to


1  H 1 1  H 2 R3 1  H 2 s1 21  H 1 2 s2
tan H 1  H 2 s2 2
;
k
3k
 4p
1  H 1  R2p
 1  H 1 2 1  H 2 s1 s2

Fig. 11. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number

and initial stress when H1 0; H 1 0; H 2 =H 1 1:5:

2:39
where
R3

02 e  H1

n



o
s3 
 2 cos m2 H 1 m2 sinm2 H1 2m
 3 m
2 sinm2 H 1 m2 cosm2 H 1
2


 02 2

:
s3
m2 sinm2 H 1
01 cos m2 H 1  2m 2  3 m
2
02

Eq. (2.39) is the dispersion equation of SH-wave propagating in

double layered heterogeneous media with different sort of heterogeneity lying over a half-space without initial stress.

Case IV. When -0 ; -0 and -0; dispersion Eq. (2.36) takes

the form


s2 s2 sin s2 H 1  3 s3 cos s2 H 1
 ;
2:40
tan H 1 H 2 s2 02  02
01 s3 02 s2 cos s2 H 1  3 s3 sins2 H1
which is the dispersion equation of SH-wave propagating in
double homogeneous layers overlying a half-space under no initial
stress.

A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

Fig. 12. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number and heterogeneity parameter of the sandwiched layer when H1 0:1; 0:1; H2 =H 1 1:5:

Fig. 13. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number

and heterogeneity parameter of the sandwiched layer when H 1 0; 0;
H 2 =H1 1:5:

Case V. When -0; -0; -0and H 1 -H 2 dispersion Eq. (2.36)

reduces to
q
s
3 1  c2 =23
c2
q ;
2:41
1
tan kH
22
02 c2 =22  1
which is the classical Love wave equation.

23

Fig. 14. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number and
heterogeneity parameter of the uppermost layer when H 1 0:1; 0:1;
H2 =H 1 1:5:

Fig. 15. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number

and heterogeneity parameter of the sandwiched layer when H1 0; 0;
H2 =H 1 1:5:

4. Numerical calculation and discussions

We consider the following data [16] for the numerical calculation and graphical illustration of the dimensionless phase velocity
of SH-wave propagating in two distinct isotropic heterogeneous
layers of nite width possessing different sort of vertical heterogeneity and which is lying over an initially stressed isotropic

24

A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

Fig. 18. Dimensionless damped velocity against dimensionless wave number when
H2 =H 1 1:5; H 1 1:2; 0:1:

Fig. 16. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number

and width ratio when H 1 0:1; 0:1; H 1 0:1:

Fig. 19. Dimensionless damped velocity against dimensionless wave number when
H1 0:1; H 2 =H1 1:5; 0:1:

3 3535 Kg=m3 ;
lowermost initially stressed isotropic homogeneous half  space
Moreover, we consider following data:

H1 0:1; 1:2; 1:3; 1:5; 1:7;

0; 7 0:05; 7 0:1 :

Fig. 17. Dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number

and width ratio when H 1 0; 0; H 1 0:

H 2 =H 1 1:50; 1:53; 1:56;

homogeneous half-space

The variation of the heterogeneity parameters of the uppermost layer and sandwiched layer on the dispersion curves has
been shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It is clear from these gures that as
the heterogeneity parameter increases dispersion curve shifts
downward, i.e. phase velocity decreases as heterogeneity grow in
either of the layers. The effect of compressive initial stress and
tensile initial stress on dispersion curves has been shown in
Figs. 4 and 5 respectively. Curve 1 in Figs. 4 and 5 corresponds

01 3:23  1010 N=m2 ;

01 2802 Kg=m3 ; uppermost heterogeneous layer
02 6:54  1010 N=m2 ;
02 3409 Kg=m3 ; sandwiched heterogeneous layer
3 7:84  1010 N=m2 ;

H1 0:1; 0:11; 0:12;

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Fig. 20. Dimensionless damped velocity against dimensionless wave number when
H 1 0:1; H1 1:2; H 2 =H1 1:5:

Fig. 21. Dimensionless damped velocity against dimensionless wave number when
H 1 0:1; H1 1:2; H 2 =H1 1:5:

to the case of no initial stress whereas curves 2 and 3 correspond

to increasing order of horizontal compressive initial stress and
horizontal tensile initial stress respectively. Fig. 4 manifest that as
horizontal compressive initial stress increases phase velocity
increases, whereas Fig. 5 suggests that as horizontal tensile initial
stress increases, phase velocity decreases. The variation of width
ratio on phase velocity has been shown in Figs. 68. Fig. 6
corresponds to the variation of width ratio when double layers
are heterogeneous and overlying an initially stressed half-space.
Fig. 7 demonstrates the variation of width ratio when double
layers are heterogeneous and overlying a half-space without initial
stress. Fig. 8 depicts the variation of width ratio when the uppermost layer is heterogeneous but sandwiched layer is homogeneous and both these layers are overlying a half-space without

25

Fig. 22. Dimensionless damped velocity against dimensionless wave number when
H1 0:1; H 1 1:2; 0:1:

initial stress. From Figs. 68 it can be adduced that as width ratio

increases phase velocity decreases. Fig. 9 corresponds to the case
of double homogeneous layers lying over a half-space without
initial stress. The comparative study of Figs. 69 concludes that as
we get rid of the heterogeneity in the layers and initial stress in
the half-space, phase velocity gets decreased.
Surface plots in Figs. 10 and 11 gives the variation of dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless wave number and
initial stress when both the layers are heterogeneous and homogeneous respectively. Figs. 12 and 13 are the surface plots depicting the variation of dimensionless phase velocity against
dimensionless wave number and heterogeneity parameter of the
sandwiched layer for the cases when heterogeneous uppermost
layer with lowermost initially stressed half-space and uppermost
homogeneous layer with lowermost half-space under no initial
stress respectively. Surface plot in Figs. 14 and 15 demonstrate the
variation of dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless
wave number and heterogeneity parameter of the uppermost layer
for the cases when the sandwiched layer is heterogeneous with
initially stressed lowermost half-space and sandwiched layer is
homogeneous layer with lowermost half-space under no initial
stress respectively.Surface plot in Figs. 16 and 17 show the
variation of dimensionless phase velocity against dimensionless
wave number and width ratio for the cases when the double layers
are heterogeneous lying over an initially stressed lowermost halfspace and double layers are homogeneous lying over a half-space
under no initial stress respectively.
For the graphical illustration of damped velocity we take
imaginary part of velocity Eq. (2.28) into account. Figs. 1824
deals with the dimensionless damped velocity against dimensionless wave number for different values of affecting parameter
namely, viz. H 1 ; H 1 ; ; H 2 =H 1 : It is clear from these gures that
damped velocity after reaching a maximum value decreases
abruptly and nally dies out. Figs. 18 and 19 depict the variation
of heterogeneity parameters of the uppermost layer and the
sandwiched layer on damped velocity respectively. It is observed
in both the gures that damped velocity decreases with the
increase in heterogeneity parameters H 1 and H 1 , i.e. heterogeneity in the layers affect adversely to the damped velocity. The

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A.K. Singh et al. / Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 69 (2015) 1627

5. Conclusion
The present paper deals with the propagation of SH-wave in
distinct vertically heterogeneous double layers overlying an initially stressed isotropic half-space. The heterogeneity in the uppermost layer is caused due to quadratic variation in rigidity only, in
terms of space variable pointing vertically downward whereas the
heterogeneity in the sandwiched layer is caused due to the
exponential variation in rigidity as well as density in terms of
space variable pointing vertically downward. The half-space is
isotropic and under a horizontal initial stress. The closed form of
velocity equation is obtained which leads to the dispersion
equation as its real part and damping equation as its imaginary
part. The validation of dispersion relation with the classical case is
made by using Debye asymptotic expansion which is the major
highlight of this study. It is observed that wave number, width
ratio of the layers, horizontal compressive/tensile initial stress,
heterogeneity parameters of the uppermost layer and sandwiched
layer have a signicant effect on the phase velocity and the
damped velocity of SH-wave. The following outcomes can be
accomplished through this study:
Fig. 23. Dimensionless damped velocity against dimensionless wave number when
H1 0:1; H 1 1:2; 0:

(i) Wave number affects phase velocity substantially. More precisely, phase velocity and damped velocity decreases with
increase in wave number.
(ii) As heterogeneity grows in the uppermost layer and sandwiched layer it affects the damped velocity and phase velocity
adversely.
(iii) The horizontal compressive initial stress has a favouring effect
on phase velocity whereas tensile initial stress has an adverse
effect on phase velocity. The trend on the effect of horizontal
compressive initial stress and horizontal compressive initial
stress on the damped velocity is just opposite to the phase
velocity.
(iv) The width ratio of the layers has a considerable effect on the
phase velocity as well as damped velocity. More precisely,
both velocity decreases with increase in width ratio.
(v) The obtained dispersion relation is in well agreement with the
classical Love wave equation.
(vi) Following validity condition is in agreement to our study of
propagation of SH-wave in the said geometry.

1 o 2 o c o 3 or 2 o 1 o c o 3 :
The above condition concludes that phase velocity of SH-wave
must be less than the shear wave velocity in lowermost half-space
and greater than the shear wave velocity in both the layers.
Fig. 24. Dimensionless damped velocity against dimensionless wave number when
H1 0:1; H 1 0; 0:

effects of horizontal compressive initial stress and horizontal

tensile initial stress on the damped velocity have been shown in
Figs. 20 and 21. It is clear from these gures that damped velocity
decreases with increase in horizontal compressive initial stress
whereas it increases with horizontal tensile initial stress. Figs. 2224
shows the variation of width ratio on damped velocity for different
cases. Fig. 22 corresponds to the variation of width ratio on damped
velocity when the double layers are heterogeneous with lowermost
half-space under initial stress. Fig. 23 demonstrates the variation
of width ratio on damped velocity when the double layers are
heterogeneous with lowermost half-space under no initial stress.
Fig. 24 reveals the variation of width ratio on damped velocity
when the uppermost layer is heterogeneous but the sandwiched
layer is homogeneous and both are lying over a half-space under no
initial stress.

Acknowledgement
The authors convey their sincere thanks to Indian School
of Mines, Dhanbad, India to facilitate us with its best facilities.
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