Ultrasonic wave propagation in cementitious materials: A multiphase approach of a self-consistent multiple scattering model

• Published in: Ultrasonics Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 71 - 84
• Main Authors: Molero, M., Segura, I., Hernández, M.G., Izquierdo, M.A.G., Anaya, J.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acoustical measurements and instrumentation; Acoustics; Aggregates; Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Cementitious materials; Cements; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dynamic homogenization; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency ranges; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Materials science; Materials testing; Mathematical models; Measurements. Technique of testing; Mortars; Multiphase; Multiphase materials; Physics; Scattering; Self-consistent multiple scattering; Ultrasonics, quantum acoustics, and physical effects of sound; Wave propagation; Self-consistent multiple scattering; Cementitious materials; Dynamic homogenization; Multiphase materials; Volume fraction; Self consistency; Modeling; Frequency effect; Cement mortar; Phase velocity; Ultrasonic control; Material testing; Dynamic model; Ultrasound; Acoustic measurement; Homogenization; Multiple scattering; Experimental study; Heterogeneous material; Attenuation coefficient; Cement; Feasibility; Porosity; Aggregate; Microstructure; Non destructive test; Aggregate(materials)
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2010.06.001

This paper examines ultrasonic wave propagation through strongly heterogeneous materials such as cementitious materials, and deals meanly with the formulation of a multiphase approach of a self-consistent multiple scattering model, the so-called dynamic generalized self-consistent model (DGSCM) proposed by Yang [J. Appl. Mech. 70(2003) 575–582]. This extended model can describe the influence of the size and volume fraction of aggregates on cementitious materials, as well as the interaction, contribution, and influence of entrapped air voids together with the aggregates on frequency-dependent parameters such as the phase velocity and the attenuation coefficient. To show the performance of this approach, theoretical predictions were compared with experimental ultrasonic measurements over a wide frequency range from several mortar specimens with different features in their microstructure properties and concentrations of aggregates up to 60%. The multiphase approaches of both the DGSCM and the Waterman–Truell model (WT) were also compared. The obtained results of the multiphase DGSCM were found to be significantly better than those obtained from the N-phase WT model for ultrasonic measurements from cementitious materials at high aggregate concentrations. The feasibility of material characterization using the multiphase approach of DGSCM was also discussed.