A high-order time-domain transmitting boundary for cylindrical wave propagation problems in unbounded saturated poroelastic media

Based on the u–p formulation of Biot equation with an assumption of zero permeability coefficient, a high-order transmitting boundary is derived for cylindrical elastic wave propagation in infinite saturated porous media. By this transmitting boundary the total stresses on the truncated boundaries of a numerical model, such as a finite element model, are replaced by a set of spring, dashpot and mass elements, with some additionally introduced auxiliary degrees of freedom. The transmitting boundaries are incorporated into the DIANA SWANDYNE II program and an unconditionally stable implicit time integration algorithm is adopted. Despite the assumption made in the derivation of the transmitting boundary, numerical examples show that it can provide highly accurate results for cylindrical elastic wave propagation problems in infinite saturated porous medium in case the u–p formulation is applicable. Although the direct applications of the proposed transmitting boundary to general two dimensional wave problems in infinite saturated porous media are not highly accurate, acceptable accuracy can still be achieved by placing the transmitting boundary at relatively large distance from the wave source.

► We study transmitting boundary for dynamic analysis of unbounded saturated media.
► A high-order time-domain transmitting boundary is derived.
► The capability of the derived boundary has been proved by numerical examples.