| Abstract: | Results of studies carried out with the help of a three-dimensional seismic model on waves diffracted from edges of varying radius of curvature R and depth h with respect to wave length λ are described. The amplitude decay, travel time, and apparent velocity of the wave diffracted from a sub-surface edge of semi-infinite length are found to depend on the parameters R, h, and distance from the edge on the surface provided the ratio of the parameters to λ are less than some limiting values. The nature of the amplitude decay is independent of R when the depth exceeds 2λ, and independent of h when R exceeds 1.5λ. When these are below the limiting values (h= 2λ and R= 1.5λ), the nature of the decay depends appreciably on R and h. The apparent decay in amplitude on the surface due to geometrical spreading by the diffracting edge is less than that of a cylindrical secondary wave source and decreases with increase in depth of the edge. The nature of the travel time curves of the diffracted waves near the edge depend on R/λ when the depth is within about one λ. Apparent velocity of the wave depends largely on R/λ in the zone of diffraction up to a distance of about one λ from the edge on the surface. Beyond this distance the velocity is almost the same irrespective of R/λ and depend only on h/λ. The width of the zone of diffraction caused by an edge of finite length comparable to λ is more and more narrow as the ratio of the distance of the edge on the surface to its depth increases. |
