Lattice Boltzmann method for multimode wave propagation in viscoelastic media and in elastic solids

This paper reports the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) based formulation for viscoelastic fluids with both volumetric and shear viscoelasticity. The relaxation limit of the viscoelastic fluid formulation yields the LBM for elastic solids with both volumetric or pressure (p) and shear (s) wave propagation modes. The reflection of a two-dimensional p wave from an obstacle (wedge) inclined to the propagation direction of the p wave is studied together with the convergence and stability behavior of the LBM as the lattice size and lattice time step decrease. The model is capable of accurately predicting the mode change (p to s) due to the reflection. The model provides a unique unified approach capable of simulating fluids, viscoelastic fluids, and solids within a single LBM framework, thus avoiding interface problems between different simulation methods. The paper concentrates on the wave propagation part of the model, in the quasielastic regime.