SUMMARYThis paper is the continuity of our previous work (Commun Numer Meth Engng 2003; 19:25-36) which applies the 2D time domain boundary element method (BEM) to solve the transient scattering of SH waves by an inclusion with a unilateral frictional contact interface. The case of the plane wave (P and/or SV wave) incidence is studied. Localized slip and separation at the interface caused by strong incident waves are considered. Therefore the interface involves three di erent kinds of unknown intervals: slip, separation and stick regions. In order to determine the unknown intervals, an iterative technique is developed. As an example, we compute the scattering of P waves by a cylinder of circular cross-section embedded in an inÿnite solid. Numerical results for the near ÿeld solutions are presented. The distortion of the response waves and the variation of the interface states are discussed.