The discrete Lamb problem: Elastic lattice waves in a block medium

Abstract

We study the propagation of transient waves under the action of a vertical step point load on the surface of a half-space filled by a block medium. The block medium is modeled by a square lattice of masses connected by springs in the directions of the axes x, y, and in the diagonal directions. The problem is solved by two methods. Analytically, we obtain asymptotic solutions in the vicinity of the Rayleigh wave at large time intervals. Numerically, we obtain a solution for any finite time interval. We compare these solutions with each other and with the solution to the Lamb problem for an elastic medium.