A hybrid solution for wave propagation problems in regular media with bounded irregular inclusions

Summary. This paper describes a method that enables one to calculate the effects of localized heterogeneities on the wavefield in an otherwise regular medium. It does so by connecting a finite element solution for a heterogeneous inclusion to any type of solution for the regular medium, e.g. a reflectivity solution for a layered medium or an analytical solution for a simple half-space. Once the Green's functions for the regular medium are determined, the method reduces to a coupled set of algebraic equations for the wavefield, with the incident field and/or body forces as known variables. An efficient numerical scheme is derived for the solution of these equations.