Full 3D Seismic Modelling using Radial Basis Functions

Understanding the Earth’s interior dynamics and evolution is pivotal, necessitating continuous advancements in numerical methods for seismic wave propagation modeling. This PhD project introduces the Radial Basis Function (RBF) method as a novel approach in seismology, aiming to overcome the Finite-Difference method’s (FDM) limitations in handling complex models and the Spectral-Element method’s (SEM) intensive mesh generation requirements. By implementing the RBF method for 3D wave equation solutions in highly heterogeneous models, this research promises to simplify and expedite seismic imaging processes (by avoiding the task of mesh generation), while showcasing its efficacy in accurately modeling complex Earth scenarios and minimizing computational costs.. The main objectives include testing the accuracy and computational efficiency of RBF compared to existing methods and laying the groundwork for realistic 3D seismic wave propagation simulations. This advancement holds promise for improving Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) techniques, crucial for precise imaging of Earth’s interior and other important applications such as medical imaging, which involves breast cancer detection and brain imaging.