Case-wise analysis of Love-type wave propagation in an irregular fissured porous stratum coated by a sandy layer

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to investigate the dispersion and damping behaviors of Love-type waves propagating in an irregular fluid-saturated fissured porous stratum coated by a sandy layer.Design/methodology/approachTwo cases are analyzed in this study. In case-I, the irregular fissured porous stratum is covered by a dry sandy layer, whereas in case-II, the sandy layer is considered to be viscous in nature. The method of separation of variables is incorporated in this study to acquire the displacement components of the considered media.FindingsWith the help of the suitable boundary conditions, the complex frequency relation is established in each case leading to two distinct equations. The real and imaginary parts of the complex frequency relation define the dispersion and attenuation properties of Love-type waves, respectively. Using the MATHEMATICA software, several graphical implementations are executed to illustrate the influence of the sandiness parameter, total porosity, volume fraction of fissures, fluctuation parameter, flatness parameters and ratio of widths of layers on the phase velocity and attenuation coefficient. Furthermore, comparison between the two cases is clearly framed through the variation of aforementioned parameters. Some particular cases in the presence and absence of irregular interfaces are also analyzed.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, although many articles regarding the surface wave propagation in different crustal layers have been published, the propagation of Love-type waves in a sandwiched fissured porous stratum with irregular boundaries is still undiscovered. Results accomplished in this analytical study can be employed in different practical areas, such as earthquake engineering, material science, carbon sequestration and seismology.