Scattering by an anisotropic circle

Journal article, 2015

The scattering by a circle is considered when the outside medium is isotropic and the inside medium is anisotropic (orthotropic). The problem is a scalar one and is phrased as a scattering problem for elastic waves with polarization out of the plane of the circle (SH wave), but the solution is with minor modifications valid also for scattering of electromagnetic waves. The equation inside the circle is first transformed to polar coordinates and it then explicitly contains the azimuthal angle through trigonometric functions. Making an expansion in a trigonometric series in the azimuthal coordinate then gives a coupled system of ordinary differential equations in the radial coordinate that is solved by power series expansions. With the solution inside the circle complete the scattering problem is solved essentially as in the classical case. Some numerical examples are given showing the influence of anisotropy, and it is noted that the effects of anisotropy are generally strong except at low frequencies where the dominating scattering only depends on the mean stiffness and not on the degree of anisotropy.