Nonaxisymmetric interaction of a spherical radiator in a fluid-filled permeable borehole

The Biot theory of poroelasticity along with the proper cylindrical/spherical wave-field transformations are used to investigate general (nonaxisymmetric) harmonic radiation from a spherical surface vibrating at the center of a fluid-filled circular cylindrical cavity embedded within a fluid-saturated porous elastic formation. This configuration, which is a realistic idealization of an acoustic logging tool suspended in a fluid-filled borehole, is of practical importance with a multitude of possible applications in seismic engineering and geophysics. The analytical results are illustrated with numerical examples in which the spherical source suspended at the center of a water-filled borehole embedded within water-saturated soils of distinct frame properties (i.e., soft or stiff soils), is excited in vibrational modes of various orders. The basic acoustic and elastic field quantities such as the resistive/reactive components of the modal acoustic radiation impedance load as well as the radial displacement and stress components induced within the surrounding formation for a pulsating (n = 0), an oscillating (n = 1), and a quadrupole-like (n = 2) spherical source are evaluated and discussed for representative values of the parameters characterizing the system. Special attention is paid to the effects of source excitation frequency, size, surface velocity profile, and internal impedance as well as soil type on the modal impedance values and the displacement/stress amplitudes. Limiting cases are considered and fair agreements with well-known solutions are obtained.