Simulation of 3D Wave Propagation in Thermoelastic Anisotropic Media

We develop a numerical algorithm for simulation of wave propagation in anisotropic thermoelastic media, established with a generalized Fourier law of heat conduction. The wavefield is computed by using a grid method based on the Fourier differential operator and a first-order explicit Crank-Nicolson algorithm to compute the spatial derivatives and discretize the time variable (time stepping), respectively. The model predicts four propagation modes, namely, a fast compressional or (elastic) P wave, a slow thermal P diffusion/wave (the T wave), having similar characteristics to the fast and slow P waves of poroelasticity, respectively, and two shear waves, one of them coupled to the P wave and therefore affected by the heat flow. The thermal mode is diffusive for low values of the thermal conductivity and wave-like (it behaves as a wave) for high values of this property. As in the isotropic case, three velocities define the wavefront of the fast P wave, i.e, the isothermal velocity in th...