A Trefftz based prediction technique for the dynamic response of poroelastic media in vibro-acoustic applications

The theory of Biot is most commonly used to model the behaviour of poroelastic materials. Nowadays, the Finite Element Method is the most well-established method to predict the dynamic response of those materials. This method subdivides the problem domain into a large number of small elemental domains in which the dynamic behaviour is approximated using simple polynomial shape functions. Due to the high number of unknowns per node and the fine meshes required to accurately capture the wave fields, the use of FEM is practically limited to low-frequency applications. Recently, an efficient Wave Based Method has been proposed to solve the Biot equations. This method is based on a Trefftz approach and takes the physics of the three wave types existing in poroelastic media into account, resulting in a faster convergence. This paper discusses applications of this method for multilayered structures and axisymmetric problems. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.status: publishe