How shear-wave properties relate to rock fractures: Simple cases

Abstract

Shear-wave data analysis, despite its ambiguities, is probably the most direct and sensitive method available for deducing rock fracture properties from remote measurements. Deducing fracture properties from the data requires understanding the relationships of shear-wave (S-wave) particle motions and velocities to fracture orientations and strengths. The purpose of this article is to help the nonspecialist gain such understanding.