An efficient stable recursive algorithm for elastic wave propagation in layered anisotropic media

An efficient recursive algorithm, the stiffness matrix method, has been developed for wave propagation in multilayered generally anisotropic media. This algorithm has the computational efficiency and simplicity of the standard transfer matrix method and is unconditionally computationally stable for high frequency and layer thickness. In this algorithm the stiffness (compliance) matrix is calculated for each layer and recursively applied to generate a stiffness (compliance) matrix for the layered system. Next, reflection and transmission coefficients are calculated for the layered media bounded by liquid or solid semispaces. Results show that the method is stable for arbitrary number and thickness of layers and the computation time is proportional to the number of layers.