A boundary integral approach to linear and nonlinear transient wave scattering

Abstract

In this paper we introduce a method for solving linear and nonlinear scattering problems for wave equations using a new hybrid approach. This new approach consists of a reformulation of the governing equations into a form that can be solved by a combination of a domain-based method and a boundary-integral method.Our reformulation is aimed at a situation where we have a collection of compact scattering objects located in an otherwise homogeneous unbounded space. The domain-based method is used to propagate the equations governing the wave field inside the scattering objects forward in time. The boundary integral method is used to supply the domain-based method with the required boundary values for the wave field. In this way the best features of both methods come into play; the response inside the scattering objects, which can be caused by both material inhomogeneity and nonlinearities, is easily taken into account using the domain-based method, and the boundary conditions supplied by the boundary integral method makes it possible to confine the domain based method to the inside of each scattering object.