We present a spectral method for solving the two‐dimensional equations of dynamic elasticity, based on a Chebychev expansion in the vertical direction and a Fourier expansion for the horizontal direction. The technique can handle the free‐surface boundary condition more rigorously than the ordinary Fourier method. The algorithm is tested against problems with known analytic solutions, including Lamb’s problem of wave propagation in a uniform elastic half‐space, reflection from a solid‐solid interface, and surface wave propagation in a haft‐space containing a low‐velocity layer. Agreement between the solutions is very good. A fourth example of wave propagation in a laterally heterogeneous structure is also presented. Results indicate that the method is very accurate and only about a factor of two slower than the Fourier method.

We present a new rapid expansion method (REM) for the time integration of the acoustic wave equation and the equations of dynamic elasticity in two spatial dimensions. The method is applicable to spatial grid methods such as finite differences, finite elements or the Fourier method. It is based on a Chebyshev expansion of the formal solution to the appropriate wave equation written in operator form. The method yields machine accuracy yet it is faster than methods based on temporal differencing. Its disadvantages are that it does not apply to all types of material rheology, and it can also require much storage when many snapshots and time sections are desired. Comparisons between numerical and analytical solutions for simple acoustic and elastic problems demonstrate the high accuracy of the REM.