Acoustic wave propagation and internal fields in rigid frame macroscopically inhomogeneous porous media

International audienceA wave propagation model in macroscopically inhomogeneous porous media is derived from the alternative Biot's theory of 1962. As a first application, the wave equation is reduced and solved in the case of rigid frame inhomogeneous porous materials. The pressure field, as well as the reflection and transmission coefficients, are obtained numerically using a wave splitting and “transmission” Green's functions approach (WS-TGF). To validate both the wave equation and the method of resolution at normal and oblique incidence, results obtained by the WS-TGF method are compared to those calculated by the classical transfer matrix method and to experimental measurements for a known two-layered porous material, considered as a single inhomogeneous layer. Discussions are then given of the reflection and transmission coefficients for various inhomogeneity profiles as well as of the internal pressure field