Propagation of shear elastic waves in composites with a random set of spherical inclusions (effective field approach)

The work is dedicated to the problem of plane monochromatic shear wave propagation through elastic matrix composite materials with a homogeneous random set of spherical inclusions. The effective field method (EFM) and quasi-crystalline approximation are used for the calculation of phase velocity and attenuation factor of the mean wave field propagating through the composite. The version of the method developed in the work allows us to obtain the dispersion equation for the wave vector of the mean wave field that serves for all frequencies of the incident field, properties and volume concentrations of the inclusions. The long- and short-wave asymptotic solutions of the dispersion equation are found in closed analytical forms. Numerical solutions of this equation are constructed in a wide region of frequencies that covers the long-, middle- and short-wave regions of the propagating waves. The phase velocities and attenuation factors of the mean wave field in the composites are analyzed for various elastic properties, density and volume concentrations of the inclusions. Comparisons of the predictions of the method with some numerical computation of the effective parameters of matrix composites are presented; possible errors in predictions of the velocities and attenuation factors of the mean wave field in the composites are indicated and discussed.     

Shear wave dispersion and attenuation in periodic systems of alternating solid and viscous fluid layers

The attenuation and dispersion of elastic waves in fluid-saturated rocks due to the viscosity of the pore fluid is investigated using an idealized exactly solvable example of a system of alternating solid and viscous fluid layers. Waves in periodic layered systems at low frequencies are studied using an asymptotic analysis of Rytov’s exact dispersion equations. Since the wavelength of shear waves in fluids (viscous skin depth) is much smaller than the wavelength of shear or compressional waves in solids, the presence of viscous fluid layers necessitates the inclusion of higher terms in the long-wavelength asymptotic expansion. This expansion allows for the derivation of explicit analytical expressions for the attenuation and dispersion of shear waves, with the directions of propagation and of particle motion being in the bedding plane. The attenuation (dispersion) is controlled by the parameter which represents the ratio of Biot’s characteristic frequency to the viscoelastic characteristic frequency. If Biot’s characteristic frequency is small compared with the viscoelastic characteristic frequency, the solution is identical to that derived from an anisotropic version of the Frenkel–Biot theory of poroelasticity. In the opposite case when Biot’s characteristic frequency is greater than the viscoelastic characteristic frequency, the attenuation/dispersion is dominated by the classical viscoelastic absorption due to the shear stiffening effect of the viscous fluid layers. The product of these two characteristic frequencies is equal to the squared resonant frequency of the layered system, times a dimensionless proportionality constant of the order 1. This explains why the visco-elastic and poroelastic mechanisms are usually treated separately in the context of macroscopic (effective medium) theories, as these theories imply that frequency is small compared to the resonant (scattering) frequency of individual pores.     

Frequency dependence of elastic (SH-) wave velocity and attenuation in anisotropic two phase media

The propagation and attenuation of elastic waves in a random anisotropic two-phase medium is studied using statistical averaging procedures and a self-consistent multiple scattering theory. The specific geometry and orientation of the inhomogeneities (second phase) are incorporated into the formulation via the scattering matrix of each inhomogeneity. The anisotropy of the composite medium is due to the specific orientation of the non-symmetric inclusions. At low frequencies, analytical expressions are derived for the effective wave number in the average medium as a function of the geometry and the material properties and the angle of orientation of the inclusions. The results for the special cases of oriented cracks may find applications in geophysics and material science. The formulation is ideally suited for numerical computation at higher frequencies as evidenced by the results presented for composites reinforced by fibers of elliptical cross section.     

缺陷岩体中弹性波传播的多次散射效应分析

弹性波在岩体中传播时与岩体缺陷相互作用形成复杂的传播图案。为研究缺陷对弹性波多次散射作用的影响,建立了双椭圆缺陷模型,基于Green函数基本解,采用边界积分的计算方法,得到了反映缺陷界面条件的刚度矩阵,分析了弹性波在双椭圆缺陷间的多次散射效应。结果表明：与单椭圆缺陷模型相比,双缺陷的相互作用使得弹性波频散和衰减效应增强,定量给出了缺陷的影响区域,从而明确了多次散射效应的尺度界限。进一步探讨了弹性波传播的多尺度效应,结果表明频散的Rayleigh峰、Mie峰和衰减的峰值频率同椭圆长轴和入射波波长两个尺度密切相关,存在明确的定量关系。相应的数值模拟结果表明,弹性波和缺陷相互作用在缺陷界面上诱发界面波,该界面波也存在频率相关性,影响了弹性波宏观传播的频散和衰减特征。     

In-plane waves in an elastic solid containing a cracked slab region

Propagation of longitudinal and transverse waves in an elastic solid that contains a cracked slab region is investigated. The cracks have a uniform probability density in the slab region, are parallel to the boundaries of the slab, and the solid is uncracked on either side of the slab. The waves are normally incident on the cracks. It is shown that the resulting average total motion in the solid is governed by a pair of coupled integral equations. These equations are solved under the special assumption that the average exciting motion near a fixed crack is equal to the average total motion. In this case, one finds that in the cracked region, where multiple scattering occurs, there is a forward motion and a backward motion. The two motions have identical frequency-dependent velocity and attenuation, for which simple closed-form formulae are obtained. Simple formulae are also obtained for the wave amplitudes outside the slab. Numerical results corresponding to the velocity, attenuation, reflection amplitude, and transmission amplitude are presented for several values of crack density and slab thickness.     

Scattering attenuation of elastic waves due to low-contrast inclusions

Seismic scattering attenuation due to random lithospheric heterogeneity has been theoretically modeled using two approaches. One approach is the Born approximation theory (BAT), which is primarily used to treat weak continuous heterogeneity, and the other approach is the Foldy approximation theory (FAT), which deals with sparsely distributed discrete inclusions. We apply the BAT to elastic wave scattering due to inclusions having low contrast with the matrix, and compare the results with those predicted by the FAT. We thus investigate the valid wavenumber range of the BAT based on a reasonable assumption that the inclusions are distributed so sparsely that the FAT is effectively correct for any wavenumber. For simplicity, we consider a specific type of round inclusion, which is either two- or three-dimensional and has a two-valued wave velocity and/or mass density. Both theories are confirmed to yield essentially equivalent results below a certain wavenumber limit, depending on the contrast. This is known as the Rayleigh-Gans scattering regime. Beyond the wavenumber limit, the BAT overestimates the attenuation for common-mode scattering due to wave-velocity contrast, but remains valid with respect to the attenuation for scattering due to mass-density contrast and/or conversion scattering. These conclusions are independent of the spatial dimensions of the media as well as the modes of the elastic waves (P or S). Some advantages of the BAT over the FAT for application to low-contrast inclusions are discussed.     

Cloaking of a circular cylindrical elastic inclusion from antiplane elastic waves and resonance effects

Cloaking of a circular cylindrical elastic inclusion embedded in a homogeneous linear isotropic elastic medium from antiplane elastic waves is studied. The transformation or change-of-variables method is used to determine the material properties of the cloak and the homogenization theory of composites is used to construct a multilayered cloak consisting of many bi-material cells. The large system of algebraic equations associated with this problem is solved by using the concept of multiple scattering with wave expansion coefficient matrices. Numerical results for cloaking of an elastic inclusion and a rigid inclusion are compared with the case of a cavity. It is found that while the cloaking patterns for the three cases are similar, the major difference is that standing waves are generated in the elastic inclusion and the multilayered cloak cannot prevent the motion inside the elastic inclusion, even though the cloak seems nearly perfect. Waves can penetrate into and cause vibrations inside the elastic inclusion, where the amplitude of standing waves depend on the material properties of the inclusion but are very much reduced when compared to the case when there is no cloak. For a prescribed mass density, the displacements inside the elastic cylinder decrease as the shear modulus increases. Moreover, the cloaking of the elastic inclusion over a range of wavenumbers is also investigated. There is significant low frequency scattering even if the cloak consists of a large number of layers. When the wavenumber increases, the multilayered cloak is not effective if the cloak consists of an insufficient number of layers. Resonance effects that occur in cloaking of elastic inclusions are also discussed.     

Scattering of ultrasound by minority phases in polycrystalline metals

The scattering of ultrasound by minority phases in polycrystalline metals is discussed. For discrete inclusions, the scattering theory of Ying and Truell describes well the attenuation of longitudinal waves. To treat the scattering by a second phase formed by segregation at a grain boundary, the scattering by a spherical shell with density and elastic constants different from those of the surrounding medium is developed. Reflection of ultrasound at this boundary is found to enhance the attenuation at low frequencies in agreement with experiments of Kamigaki. Application is made to the scattering by manganese sulphide in free-machining steel.     

Propagation of longitudinal elastic waves in composites with a random set of spherical inclusions (effective field approach)

The work is devoted to the problem of plane monochromatic longitudinal wave propagation through a homogeneous elastic medium with a random set of spherical inclusions. The effective field method and quasicrystalline approximation are used for the calculation of the phase velocity and attenuation factor of the mean (coherent) wave field in the composite. The hypotheses of the method reduce the diffraction problem for many inclusions to a diffraction problem for one inclusion and, finally, allow for the derivation of the dispersion equation for the wave vector of the mean wave field in the composite. This dispersion equation serves for all frequencies of the incident field, properties and volume concentrations of inclusions. The long and short wave asymptotics of the solution of the dispersion equation are found in closed analytical forms. Numerical solutions of this equation are constructed in a wide region of frequencies of the incident field that covers long, middle, and short wave regions of propagating waves. The phase velocities and attenuation factors of the mean wave field are calculated for various elastic properties, density, and volume concentrations of the inclusions. Comparisons of the predictions of the method with some experimental data are presented; possible errors of the method are indicated and discussed.     

An experimental investigation of shock wave propagation in periodically layered composites

In heterogeneous media, scattering due to interfaces/microstructure between dissimilar materials could play an important role in shock wave dissipation and dispersion. In this work, the influence of interface scattering on finite-amplitude shock waves was experimentally investigated by impacting flyer plates onto periodically layered polycarbonate/6061 aluminum, polycarbonate/304 stainless steel and polycarbonate/glass composites. Experimental results (obtained using velocity interferometer and stress gage) show that these periodically layered composites can support steady structured shock waves. Due to interface scattering, the effective shock viscosity increases with the increase of interface impedance mismatch, and decreases with the increase of interface density (interface area per unit volume) and loading amplitude. For the composites studied here, the strain rate within the shock front is roughly proportional to the square of the shock stress. This indicates that layered composites have much larger shock viscosity due to the interface/microstructure scattering in comparison with the increase of shock strain rate by the fourth power of the shock stress for homogeneous metals. Experimental results also show that due to the scattering effects, shock propagation in the layered composites is dramatically slowed down and the shock speed in composites can be lower than that either of its components.     

Effective medium method in the problem of axial elastic shear wave propagation through fiber composites

The effective medium method (EMM) is applied to the solution of the problem of monochromatic elastic shear wave propagation through matrix composite materials reinforced with cylindrical unidirected fibers. The dispersion equations for the wave numbers of the mean wave field in such composites are derived using two different versions of the EMM. Asymptotic solutions of these equations in the long and short wave regions are found in closed analytical forms. Numerical solutions of the dispersion equations are constructed in a wide region of frequencies of the incident field that covers long, middle and short wave regions of the mean wave field. Velocities and attenuation factors of the mean wave fields in the composites obtained by different versions of the EMM are compared for various volume concentrations and properties of the inclusions. The main discrepancies in the predictions of different versions of the EMM are indicated, analyzed and discussed.     

The averaged mechanical properties of prismatic lattice formed by ellipsoidal inclusions

Summary The objective of this paper is to evaluate the averaged elastic properties of 3-D grained composites in which identical inclusions form a prismatic network interacting with the matrix material. The inclusions are of ellipsoidal shape with transverse circular sections located at the nodes of a doubly-periodic lattice with an orthogonal elementary cell. When the arrays of inclusions are set at equal spacings in normal directions through the thickness of the matrix, the material formed is an anisotropic composite with tetragonal symmetry at planes transverse to the fiber axis. The longitudinal and transverse elastic and shear moduli as well as the longitudinal Poisson's ratios of such composites are evaluated in this paper. The averaged properties are studied in terms of the aspect ratio and volume fraction of the inclusions as well as the relative rigidity of the constituent phases. Employing the Eshelby's theory for the stress field around a single ellipsoidal inhomogeneity, which is surrounded by the effective anisotropic material, and considering the Mori-Tanaka's concept for the mutual interaction of the neighboring inclusions, we may evaluate the averaged elastic properties of grained composites with aligned ellipsoidal inclusions at finite concentrations. The results provided in a closed-form solution concern the stiffness of 3-D grained composites with parallely dispersed ellipsoidal inclusions forming a prismatic network inside the principal material. It is shown that the stiffness is affected by both the geometry of the inclusions and their concentration. The use of different composite models in the analysis shows that intense variations of stiffness occur mainly in hard composites weakened by soft ellipsoidal inclusions. These findings come in full verification with experimental or theoretical results from the literature. Received 10 February 1998; accepted for publication 27 November 1998     

Free-field wave solutions in a half-plane exhibiting a special-type of continuous inhomogeneity

This work presents closed-form solutions for free-field motions in a continuously inhomogeneous half-plane that include contributions of incident waves as well as of waves reflected from the traction-free horizontal surface. Both pressure and vertically polarized shear waves are considered. Furthermore, two special types of material inhomogeneity are studied, namely (a) a shear modulus that varies quadratically with respect to the depth coordinate and (b) one that varies exponentially with the said coordinate. In all cases, Poisson’s ratio is fixed at one-quarter, while both shear modulus and material density profiles vary proportionally. Next, a series of numerical results serve to validate the aforementioned models, and to show the differences in the wave motion patterns developing in media that are inhomogeneous as compared to a reference homogeneous background. These results clearly show the influence of inhomogeneity, as summarized by a single material parameter, on the free-field motions that develop in the half-plane. It is believed that this type of information is useful within the context of wave propagation studies in non-homogeneous continua, which in turn find applications in fields as diverse as laminated composites, geophysical prospecting, oil exploration and earthquake engineering.     

Dynamic bulk and shear moduli due to grain-scale local fluid flow in fluid-saturated cracked poroelastic rocks: Theoretical model

Grain-scale local fluid flow is an important loss mechanism for attenuating waves in cracked fluid-saturated poroelastic rocks. In this study, a dynamic elastic modulus model is developed to quantify local flow effect on wave attenuation and velocity dispersion in porous isotropic rocks. The Eshelby transform technique, inclusion-based effective medium model (the Mori–Tanaka scheme), fluid dynamics and mass conservation principle are combined to analyze pore-fluid pressure relaxation and its influences on overall elastic properties. The derivation gives fully analytic, frequency-dependent effective bulk and shear moduli of a fluid-saturated porous rock. It is shown that the derived bulk and shear moduli rigorously satisfy the Biot-Gassmann relationship of poroelasticity in the low-frequency limit, while they are consistent with isolated-pore effective medium theory in the high-frequency limit. In particular, a simplified model is proposed to quantify the squirt-flow dispersion for frequencies lower than stiff-pore relaxation frequency. The main advantage of the proposed model over previous models is its ability to predict the dispersion due to squirt flow between pores and cracks with distributed aspect ratio instead of flow in a simply conceptual double-porosity structure. Independent input parameters include pore aspect ratio distribution, fluid bulk modulus and viscosity, and bulk and shear moduli of the solid grain. Physical assumptions made in this model include (1) pores are inter-connected and (2) crack thickness is smaller than the viscous skin depth. This study is restricted to linear elastic, well-consolidated granular rocks.     

Surface waves at the interface between an inviscid fluid and a dipolar gradient solid

This paper is about the dispersion analysis of surface waves propagating at the interface between an inviscid fluid and a higher gradient homogeneous elastic solid modelled as a dipolar gradient continuum. In order to compare the results, a second gradient model is also evaluated. The analysis is carried out by finding the roots of the secular equation, and by carefully studying their physical meaning. As it is well known, higher gradient continua are dispersive, i.e. phase and group velocities are frequency dependent. As a consequence, the existence of surface waves will indeed depend on frequency. In order to investigate the behaviour of surface waves in this specific fluid–solid configuration, a complete dispersion analysis is performed, with a particular focus on the frequency range in which the phase velocity of shear waves is lower than the speed of waves of the fluid. Surface waves of the type Leaky Rayleigh and Scholte–Stoneley are observed in this frequency range. This work extends the knowledge on surface waves in the case of higher gradient solids and applications of these results can be found in the field of non-destructive damage evaluation in micro structured materials, composites, metamaterials and biological tissues.     

Shear wave velocity in sand considering the effects of frequency based on particle contact theory

Since the shear waves involved in in-situ and laboratory measurement methods vary significantly in terms of the frequency range, it is necessary to consider the effects of frequency on the shear wave velocity. In this study, sand particles are assumed to be spherical solid particles with an equal radius and identical material properties, and sand skeletons are regarded as granular aggregations generated through the random packing of sand particles. It is also assumed that the sand particles only undergo elastic deformation during shear wave propagation. Based on a spherical particle model, a formula is obtained for calculating the shear wave velocity in sand, with the shear wave frequency as an extra influencing parameter. The quantitative calculations demonstrate that the shear wave velocity decreases with an increase of sand porosity, and accelerates with increases of vertical effective stress and elastic modulus of the sand particles. It is also indicated that both the particle density and Poisson’s ratio of the sand particles have negligible effects on the shear wave propagation. The frequency dispersion characteristics of shear wave propagating in sand are also discussed. Moreover, the critical frequency is defined and its analytical expression is derived. The calculation results obtained using the proposed equations agree well with the in-situ measurement results and bender element test data.     

One-dimensional wave pulses in steel-epoxy composites

Experimental studies of wave propagation, attenuation and dispersion have been conducted in order to establish criteria for predicting energy-transfer and absorption properties of uniaxially reinforced steel-epoxy resin composites in the direction of the reinforcement. Laboratory-prepared long-bar specimens were fabricated for test purposes with small-amplitude waves introduced in specimens of varying wire size and volume percent of reinforcement, by impact with pure-epoxy rods projected from an air gun. Impact velocities were sufficiently small that the structural integrity of composite-bar specimens was maintained. Principal results are wave speeds, wave forms, attenuation and dispersion data for several geometries, prediction techniques based on properties of constituent material, and comparisons with wave behavior in the pureconstituent materials.     

粘弹性Hopkinson压杆中波的衰减和弥散

研究了线性粘弹性Hopkinson压杆中由于粘性效应和横向惯性效应引起的就力波衰减和弥散。导出计及横向惯性效应的线性粘弹性杆中纵波控制方程和应力解应变解，进而导出表征波衰竭和弥散性质的纵波传播系数的修正公式。这一修正公式计入粘性效应和几何效应，与Bacon公式相比，其形式简单，更便于在实验数据处理中应用。最后利用实验方法测定了有机玻璃杆的传播系数。     

Wave propagation in an unconsolidated granular material: A micro-mechanical approach

We provide a theoretical analysis to support the presence of both slow and fast compression waves in an unconsolidated, fully saturated, granular material. We derive the constitutive relation for such an aggregate based upon a micro-mechanics analysis. In doing this, we take in account the coupling between the solid particles and fluid. As a consequence of this coupling, the lubrication layer provides a connection between particles, both when they are separating and when they are compressing. The predictions of the speed and attenuation of the fast compression waves compare well with experimental data over the range of frequencies for which the nonlinear dissipation associated with the relative velocities between solid and fluid is negligible. Slow waves are also predicted without comparison, because of the absence of clear experimental data. Predictions of the speed and attenuation for the shear wave are also provided and show a good agreement with experimental data when surface roughness is taken into account.     

The influence of porosity on the elastic response of homogeneous and structural composite media

Continuum theories of composites are employed to analyze the influence of inclusions and porosity on the elastic response of both homogeneous and laminated composite media. The general model analyzed consists of a periodic array of two perfectly bonded laminates; one of which consists of an elastic homogeneous material while the other is made up of a periodic array of cylindrical elastic inclusions that are distributed in another elastic matrix material. Several specific models are deduced as special cases. In all cases, porosity is simulated in the limit as the properties of the inclusions identically vanish. It is demonstrated that porosity plays a major role in the geometric dispersion of such media; in particular, it increases the arrival and rise times (spreading) of a propagating transient pulse. For the special case of elastic inclusions in a homogeneous matrix media, the present results correlate very well with existing experimental data and other approximate analyses.