GROUND VIBRATION IN THE VICINITY OF A RECTANGULAR LOAD ACTING ON A VISCOELASTIC LAYER OVER A RIGID FOUNDATION

The transmission of vibrations in the vicinity of a rectangular harmon ic vertical load, acting on a viscoelastic layer overlaying a rigid ha lf-space, is investigated theoretically, using a semi-analytic approac h. The solution involves a double Fourier transform with respect to tw o of the space variables of Navier's elastodynamic equations. The inve rse double Fourier transform is achieved with the FFT algorithm. Resul ts presented include transformed displacements in the wavenumber domai n, actual displacements in the near-field of the load, and the direct receptance at the load. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.