Finite Element Modeling of Acoustic Wave Scattering in Saturated Porous Media with Viscoelastic Inclusions

International Journal of Physics | Vol. 5, No. 3, March 2014 | pp. 17–24

DOI: 10.46882/2014/IJP/000047

Research Article

Title: Finite Element Modeling of Acoustic Wave Scattering in Saturated Porous Media with Viscoelastic Inclusions

Names of Authors: P. J. O’Connor¹, S. B. Mukherjee²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; ²Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India

Abstract: Characterizing elastic wave propagation through fluid-saturated porous structures is crucial for geophysical exploration and modern acoustic dampening designs. This study presents a finite element modeling approach to simulate acoustic wave scattering within a saturated porous matrix containing distributed viscoelastic inclusions. The mathematical model integrates Biot's dynamic equations of poroelasticity with a generalized Maxwell constitutive framework to account for viscoelastic relaxation. Numerical simulations were executed across an ultrasonic frequency spectrum from 10.0 kHz to 500.0 kHz. The computational results demonstrate that the presence of viscoelastic inclusions induces a strong attenuation peak for the fast compressional wave mode at 150.0 kHz. This attenuation is primarily driven by local fluid flow mechanisms at the matrix-inclusion interfaces. The scattering cross-section displays a non-linear dependence on inclusion volume fractions, showing saturation behavior above a 15.0% threshold. Experimental validation was conducted using synthetic porous sandstone specimens filled with silicone rubber nodules. The measured transmission loss spectra matched the simulated profiles within a ±5.5% margin. These findings help optimize acoustic barriers and improve interpretations of seismic data collected from fluid-bearing geological formations.

Keywords: Porous media; acoustic scattering; finite element modeling; Biot's theory; viscoelasticity; wave attenuation

Manuscript Timeline: Received: December 10, 2013; Revised: January 20, 2014; Accepted: February 08, 2014; Published: March 12, 2014

Citation: O’Connor, P. J., & Mukherjee, S. B. (2014). Finite Element Modeling of Acoustic Wave Scattering in Saturated Porous Media with Viscoelastic Inclusions. International Journal of Physics, 5(3), 17–24.

Subscribe to read the full article: https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read