Perfectly matched layers for transient elastodynamics of unbounded domains

Abstract One approach to the numerical solution of a wave equation on an unbounded domain uses a bounded domain surrounded by an absorbing boundary or layer that absorbs waves propagating outward from the bounded domain. A perfectly matched layer (PML) is an unphysical absorbing layer model for linear wave equations that absorbs, almost perfectly, outgoing waves of all non‐tangential angles‐of‐incidence and of all non‐zero frequencies. In a recent work [ Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 2003; 192: 1337–1375], the authors presented, inter alia , time‐harmonic governing equations of PMLs for anti‐plane and for plane‐strain motion of (visco‐) elastic media. This paper presents (a) corresponding time‐domain, displacement‐based governing equations of these PMLs and (b) displacement‐based finite element implementations of these equations, suitable for direct transient analysis. The finite element implementation of the anti‐plane PML is found to be symmetric, whereas that of the plane‐strain PML is not. Numerical results are presented for the anti‐plane motion of a semi‐infinite layer on a rigid base, and for the classical soil–structure interaction problems of a rigid strip‐footing on (i) a half‐plane, (ii) a layer on a half‐plane, and (iii) a layer on a rigid base. These results demonstrate the high accuracy achievable by PML models even with small bounded domains. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.