Quality Factor of Inhomogeneous Plane Waves

Abstract: We first compare two apparently dissimilar expressions for the quality factor Q of inhomogeneous plane waves in isotropic viscoelastic media, where Q is defined as the result of an energy-balance relation. In this case, it is the ratio of twice the strain energy to the dissipated energy. Both expressions give the same Q for P-waves and Q for S-waves is independent of the inhomogeneity angle γ (isotropic media). Then, we consider the more general balance equation, which holds for anisotropic viscoelastic media, where anomalous behaviors are observed when γ exceeds some critical value (forbidden directions of propagation). This problem has already been solved analytically for SH-waves. Here, we consider the qP–qS case, which requires a numerical solution of the dispersion equation to obtain the wavenumber and attenuation factor, i.e., the real and imaginary parts of the wave vector, respectively. The forbidden directions appear when the phase velocity approaches a zero value. Generally, the phase velocity of homogeneous waves (γ = 0) exceeds that of inhomogeneous waves, while the latter show stronger attenuation (lower quality factor). In the vicinity of the forbidden directions, the opposite behavior may occur.