Volume 9, Issue 3, 2000

An Iterative Medium Approximation for Wave Dispersion and Attenuation Predictions in Particulate Composites

S.V Tsinopoulos¹, J. T. Verbis¹ and D.Polyzos²

¹Institute of Chemical Engineering and High Temperature Chemical Processes-FORTH,  GR26500, Patras, Greece

²Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering,  University of Patras, GR26500, Patras, Greece and

Institute of Chemical Engineering and High Temperature Chemical Processes-FORTH, GR26500, Patras, Greece

(Received 2/00 ; accepted 4/00)

ABSTRACT

This work deals with the dispersion and attenuation of elastic waves propagating in a random particle-reinforced composite. A new iterative effective medium approximation based on the single scattering consideration, for the quantitative estimation of wave dispersion and attenuation is proposed. The iterations are carried out via the classical dispersion relation of Foldy while the convergence of the iterative procedure is accomplished through a self-consistent condition proposed by Kim et al. [6]. The methodology is quite general and it works for any type of particles. The single scattering problem is solved numerically by means of an advanced boundary element code. Numerical results concerning the frequency dependent behaviour of the wave velocity and attenuation coefficient for three particular types of composites are presented. The results obtained are compared to those taken either experimentally or numerically by other investigators.