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Oliger et al. 2003
Oliger, A., Nolte, D.D. and Pyrak-Nolte, L.J. (2003). Seismic focusing by a single planar fracture. Geophysical Research Letters 30: doi: 10.1029/2002GL016264. issn: 0094-8276.

A single plane fracture with an axially symmetric stress distribution behaves as a seismic lens that focuses seismic energy to a beam waist at a focal plane. Both phase and amplitude effects on a seismic wave propagating across the fracture contribute to the lensing behavior. Radial gradients in the fracture specific stiffness cause wave refraction through a radially varying group time delay, while the fracture transmission amplitude approximates a Fresnel zone plate. This work demonstrates that a two-dimensional planar fracture, contrasted with three-dimensional geologic structures such as basins and domes, can focus seismic waves. Focusing of seismic waves by fractures should be considered in the interpretation of seismic data from fractured strata with heterogeneous stress distributions.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Physical Properties of Rocks, Wave attenuation, Physical Properties of Rocks, Acoustic properties, Physical Properties of Rocks, Fracture and flow, Physical Properties of Rocks, Instruments and techniques, Physical Properties of Rocks, General or miscellaneous
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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