Calculation of surface motions of a layered half-space

Abstract

A new method is presented for computing the transient response of a set of horizontally stratified, linearly elastic layers overlying a uniform half-space and excited by vertically incident, transient plane waves. In addition, a simple approximate method of satisfactory accuracy is developed that reduces the computing time required. Calculated responses are compared with motions recorded under Union Bay in Seattle to evaluate the agreement between recorded and calculated motions.