Scattering of long acoustic waves in porous media

C. Boutin & M. Bazaille

Laboratoire Gomatriaux, Ecole Nationale des Travaux Publics de lEtat, France

ABSTRACT: This paper focus on the determination of the long wave scattering effect in gas saturated porous
media using the homogenisation method. To investigate the deviation from the continuum description, the multi-
scale asymptotic expansions are developed up to the third order. The first order leads to the Biot-Allard continuum
approximation. The second order induces a correction of the flow, the wave characteristics being unchanged. The
third order introduces an additional dispersion effect on the velocity and attenuation. This theoretical approach
is illustrated by analytical results in a simple case.

1 INTRODUCTION The specific features of the P2 acoustic waves prop-

This paper is devoted to the scattering of acoustic
waves in noise absorbing materials made of rigid
porous media saturated by air. Usually, the Biot-Allard,
or equivalent fluid model (Allard, 1993), efficiently
describes the wave propagation in such media. This
modelling captures the main physical effects provided
that the wavelength is significantly larger than the
characteristic pore size. However, when the scale sep-
aration is large but not very large, the long wave or
Rayleigh scattering phenomena occurs and has to be
taken into account. This effect may partially explain
some observed deviation between experiments and
modelling (Tournat et al, 2004).
This problem is investigated using the homogeni-
sation of periodic media (Bensoussan et al, 1978),
(Sanchez-Palencia, 1980), (Bakhvalov, Panasenko,
1989). This multi-scale asymptotic method enables
to determine the macroscopic description from the
knowledge of the physics at the microscopic level, pro-
vided that a good scale separation between macro and
micro scale is fulfilled (Auriault, 1991). The procedure
is generally restrained to the derivation of the first sig-
nificant term that defines the equivalent continuum
behaviour. However, in the case of poor scale separa-
tion the macroscopic continuum description has to be
enriched by the next order terms that induce non-local
effects, (see (Gambin, Krner, 1989) or (Boutin, 1996)
for elastostatic cases). For mechanical waves in elas-
tic composite materials (Boutin, Auriault, 1993) it was
shown that the so-derived correctors properly describe
the Rayleigh scattering effects. A similar approach
was applied to diffusive thermal waves in (Boutin,
1995). Recently, the Darcys law correctors have been
established by (Auriault, Geindreau, Boutin, 2005) for
agating in a gas saturated rigid porous media, make
inefficient the results on long waves scattering already
established for other materials for two reasons:
the dispersion from diffusion wave, at low fre-
quency, to propagation wave at high frequency,
induces significant differences with purely elastic
or diffusive cases,
because of the strong contrast of properties between
gas and skeleton and the finite porosity, the sim-
plifying assumptions of quasi-homogeneous mate-
rial or weak heterogeneity concentration can not
be used.
The approach presented in this paper provides a theo-
retical way to overcome these difficulties. The second
part is devoted to the principle of the method and the
basic physical assumptions concerning the medium.
The third part presents the macroscopic description up
to the third order, and focus on the physical meaning
of the correctors. In the fourth part the perturbations of
plane wave are examined, and lastly a simple analytical
example is given.
2 ACOUSTICS OF GAS SATURATED
POROUS MEDIA
2.1 Homogenisation principle
The macroscopic representation of heterogeneous
media makes sense only if there is a scale separa-
tion. This implies, (Auriault, 1991), firstly that the
material is regular enough to show a representa-
tive volume element. This is expressed by assuming
the periodicity of the material (made of identical
permanent flow. repeated cells  of characteristic size l). Secondly the

247
Copyright 2005 Taylor & Francis Group plc, London, UK
phenomenon must vary according to a size L larger
than l. In acoustics, L is related to the wavelength by
L = /2 (Boutin, Auriault, 1990).
The well distinct lengths L and l lead to introduce
two space variables x, y related by the scale ratio
= l/L << 1 ; y = 1 x. It is worth mentioning that
for a given medium, the actual physical varies
according to the wavelength, then to the frequency.
Each quantity (hereafter the pressure and the veloc-
ity) is developed in the form of asymptotic expansion
in powers of :
The material periodicity induces the same periodicity
for the physical quantities, thus terms pi and vi are
scale. Then, using the macroscopic length as reference
length, the Navier-Stokes equation has to be rescaled,
the mass balance equation being unchanged (see for
instance (Boutin et al, 1998)):
2.3 Formulation of the homogenisation process
Let us process to homogenisation of the acoustics of
rigid porous media. When using the double spatial
variables x and y, the spatial derivative x is changed
into x + 1 y , and the single scale differential oper-
ators G and N changes to:
-periodic according to the variable y.
The homogenisation processes in two steps:
performing a physical analysis and rescale the equa-
with:
tions, using powers of for expressing the order of
magnitude of the dimensionless terms,
introducing the expansions in rescaled equations,
identify the terms of same power in , and solve the
problems obtained in series.

2.2 Harmonic gas motion in porous media:

Basic and rescaled equations Introducing the asymptotic expansions of variables p
The gas saturating the pores of the rigid skeleton (of and v, and identifying identical power of lead to the
porosity ) is submitted to small harmonic pertur-
bations (of frequency f = /2) form its equilibrium
state. Neglecting the solid/gas heat exchanges, the adi-
abatic gas flow is governed by its viscosity, density,
compressibility and the pores geometry.
following series of problems, set on the cell , for the
y-periodic expansion terms.
The first problem (indicating p0 (x,y) = p0 (x)) is
simply expressed by:
In the pores (f ) of the periodic cell, the linearised
equations governing harmonic oscillations are given
below, where v is the velocity, D(v) the strain rate, The next set {S0 } gives the first approximation of the
p the small pressure variation, is the gas viscosity, dynamic permeability problem, (Auriault, 1980):
the specific heat ratio, Pe and e the pressure and
density at equilibrium. The term exp(it) is omitted
here and in the following of the paper.
Gas compressibility (mass balance):

The first corrector is obtained from the set {S1 }

Navier-Stokes equation (momentum balance):

Adherence condition at the gas-solid interface, : The second corrector and (i + 2)th correctors (i 0)
are derived from set {Si+2 }:

Under wave propagation the pressure and the density

oscillate according to the wavelength (the macro-
scopic size) whereas the velocity varies at the pore

248
Copyright 2005 Taylor & Francis Group plc, London, UK
3 DESCRIPTION UP TO THE THIRD ORDER
3.1 Macroscopic dynamic mass balances
Before making any resolution let us first mention that
each mass balance equation must satisfy to a compat-
ibility condition, obtained as usual by integration on
the pore cell volume:
Because of the periodicity and the adherence condi-
tion, the first term vanishes. The G0 expression and
inverting y-integration and x-derivation, yield:
giving the macroscopic mass balance at order i 0:
where, following the Darcys law conventions:
3.2 Expressions of local fields
To go further we need to solve the linear problems
{Si }. The resolution (not detailed here) is recurrent.
At each order, the same equations as the preceding
order are recovered, except for a new additive term,
involving the gradient of the solutions of lower order.
Tensors i+1 and i k are build from the 3i particu-
lar pressure and velocity solutions (i+1 , i k) of set
{Si } under unit components of the forcing terms
(x )i P0 (x). Consistently with the adopted notations,
i+1
= i+1 i+1 and i k = i ki .
More precisely, (1 i , 0 k i ) are the 3 solutions of set
{S0 } for unit pressure gradient x P0 (x) = ei .
In the same way, (2 mn , 1 k mn ) are the 9 solutions of
set {S1 } with x x P0 (x) = em en ; (3 pqr , 2 k pqr ) the
27 solutions of {S2 } with x x x P0 (x) = ep eq er ;
and finally for (3 i , 2 nj ), the 3 solutions of {S2 } with
x P0 (x) = ej .
The rank of tensors i and i k is respectively i and
i + 2, while 3 and 2 n are of rank 1 and 2. One has
(at least at low frequency) O(i ) = li , O(i k) = li+2 ,
O(3 ) = l, O(i n) = l2 .
By construction, tensors i and 3 are of zero aver-
age on the cell and disappear in the macroscopic
description.
Finally, all these tensors are complex valued. They
depend on the pores geometry and on the frequency
through the dimensionless frequency /c . The char-
acteristic pulsation c is such that viscous and inertial
effects are of the same magnitude in the pores. It is
given by c = /Ke where K is the intrinsic (static)
permeability, K = O(l2 ).
3.3 Continuum description and correctors
These fields i pi , i vi averaged on the cell, together
with the macroscopic balance equations, provide the
macroscopic description of the acoustics in porous
Thus, once (p j+1 , v j ), 0 j< i, have been determined, media up to the third order (in which i K = 1 f
they become forcing terms in the problem related to k, N = 1 f i n, and the index x for the derivatives
i i
(pi+1 , vi ), and so on . . . The successive resolution leads is omitted):
to pressure and velocity fields on the form:

The first equations give the Biot-Allard equivalent

continuum description: 0 K/ is the dynamic perme-
ability tensor and /Pe the effective adiabatic com-
pressibility.The correctors appear in the next equations
that involve higher derivative of the pressure fields,
and can be interpreted as non-local term in the dynamic
behaviour law.

249
Copyright 2005 Taylor & Francis Group plc, London, UK
 For studying wave propagation it is convenient to
keep the pressure as unique variable, that yields:
However, following a similar approach than for elastic
composites (Boutin, Auriault, 1993) or static per-
meability (Auriault et al, 2005), a skew symmetry
of tensor 1 K can be demonstrated Thus the source
term S1 (P0 ) = div(1 K... P0 ) vanishes. As P0 and
P1 respect the same equation, P1 can be cancelled
(or included in P0 ) without lost of generality. Thus
P1 = 0 (nevertheless generally V1 = 0). The pressure
corrector is then of the order 2 and fulfil the equation:
The right hand side of this equation comes from
neglected terms at preceding orders that have to taken
into account at this order. They act as a density of
source directly related to the P0 field. In turn, the cor-
rective P2 field is radiated (according to the zero order
macro behaviour): we are back to the Rayleigh scat-
tering, in which the passing of a long wave through
heterogeneity generates sources that radiate perturba-
tions. The interest of the homogenisation is to replace
these sources and their precise radiation by mean
sources and equivalent fields at the considered order.
4 SCATTERING OF PLANE WAVE
4.1 Wave propagation: continuum approximation
Let us consider a porous media (isotropy is not needed)
and investigate the scattering effect on a harmonic
plane wave propagating in a given direction (of unit
vector d). Denoting by hd = hr + ihi the complex wave
number in this direction, the spatial variations of the
zero order pressure takes the form:
From the zero order balance equation we obtain:
250
Copyright 2005 Taylor & Francis Group plc, London, UK
The wave velocity, the wavelength and the attenuation
factor in direction d is derived by separating the real
and imaginary parts of hd = hr + ihi :
As a consequence of the variations of the dynamic
permeability with frequency, this wave (of P2 kind)
presents a strong dispersion.
At low frequencies ( < c ) viscous force dom-
inates and Kd = O(K). Acoustic P2 wave tends to
behave as a diffusion wave in this range:
At high frequencies ( > c ) inertial effect domi-
nates and Kd = O(/ie ). Acoustic P2 wave tends
to behave as a propagation wave in this range:
4.2 Taking the corrector into account
As mentioned above, P1 = 0. The continuum descrip-
tion is then correct up to a precision 2 for the pressure
and for the flow. This is sufficient in the case of long
waves. For shorter waves the precision is improved by
considering the higher order terms. So let us first cal-
culate the source term S2 (P0 ) due to the macro-field P0 :
This source is proportional (but not in phase) to P0 .
Thus, it acts as a forcing term loading the material
according to one of this eigen mode, i.e. the plane
wave in the direction d. The resulting radiated field P2
is consequently amplified as the wave progresses. For
this reason the solution of:
is in the form:
This means that the scattered field is coherent (consis-
tently the scale separation assumption) and radiate in
the same direction as the zero-order field.
The complex Qd depends on /c and reads:
Finally, up to the second order the macro-field reads: || is the thickness of the viscous layer in the gas.

The zero order dynamic permeability tensor takes the

Since by construction Qd (ihd )2 = O(2 ), at the same j
classical diagonal form (0 Ki = 0 for i = j):
level of approximation, within distance x such as
O(ihd x.d) < 1/2 (indeed this restriction can be
relaxed), the total field can also be expressed as:
At the next order, calculations show that, despite some
local fields 1 k are not zero, they are of zero average.
Then the third rank tensor 1 K vanishes:
And the corrected wave number is given by:

After some algebra, the non-vanishing components of

the fourth rank corrector tensor 2 K are:
This result shows that the diffraction modifies the
apparent properties, i.e. hd , derived from the contin-
uum approximation. This perturbation results from
the interference between the initial wave of zero
order and the coherent wave generated by the induced
source distribution at the pores scales. Clearly the cor-
rection can be assessed from the knowledge of the
permeability and corrector tensors.
Formally the obtained hd expression is similar to
that obtained in elasticity or thermal conductivity.
However in these latter cases the analogue of the term
Qd is a geometric real constant strictly related to the
microstructure. For this reason, scattering leads to a
velocity dispersion varying according to 2 , for elastic
waves, and to for thermal waves.
In the present case, rules for the physical conse-
quences of scattering are not so easy to draw. Firstly, Qd
being a complex number, the velocity and attenuation
are both modified, secondly, because of the frequency
dependence of Qd through /c there is no general
trends for the frequency influence.
j
Finally the second rank tensor 2 N is diagonal (2 N i = 0
for i = j) and has the following components:
4.3 A simple example
To illustrate these theoretical results we consider a
simple geometrical case where calculation can be
performed analytically. The periodic porous medium Consider now a plane wave propagating in a direc-
consists in a series of parallel impervious rigid plane tion d inclined of an angle with the plane plates,
plates of normal vector e3 and negligible thickness i.e., d = cos()e1 + sin()e3 . In this direction the wave
(so that the porosity equals 1). These plates are sep- number hd is given by:
arated by a gas layer of constant thickness a. This
medium is isotropic in the plane (e1, e2 ) and impervious
in direction e3 .
The 1D geometry enables the exact determination and the coefficient Qd takes the form:
(not detailed here) of the local fields at any order. The
macroscopic tensors are then derived from the partic-
ular solutions of the sets {Si }. Let us introduce the
convenient notations:

251
Copyright 2005 Taylor & Francis Group plc, London, UK
Thus the dimensionless corrective term Qd (ihd )2 of the
wave number reads:
When focusing on waves propagating in the particular
direction parallel to the plates it reduces to:
From the above expressions of tensors components,
we notice that at both high and low frequency the term
2 111 0 1 2
K1 ( K1 ) tends to (different) real values. Thus at
low frequency the scattering perturbation is near to
that of the diffusion waves. At high frequency, the
mixing of the P2 wave characteristics with this per-
turbation implies atypical effects with (at the limit) a
velocity dispersion varying according to 1/2 , and a
finite attenuation.
In other directions similar effect will occur at low
frequency. However, at high frequency the presence
of terms like a2 /(120 K11 ) implies that Qd (ihd )2 tends
to be real and varies according to 2 . Thus, conse-
quences similar (at the limit) to those for elastic waves
are expected.
This simple case shows that the diffraction correc-
tion presents a rather complex frequency dependence
strongly related to the dynamic material properties.
Those analytical results only apply for the consid-
ered geometry. Nevertheless for other materials, they
could be of interest to identify the key parameters and
to provide a first assessment of this effect.
5 CONCLUSION
To investigate the long wave scattering, the homogeni-
sation method of periodic media was applied, extend-
ing the analysis up to the third order terms.
In the Rayleigh domain, the Biot-Allard contin-
uum description is improved by the high order terms.
They imply a non-local behavior (associated to micro-
structural sources) and specific tensors depending on
the microstructure and the frequency. As the first order
pressure perturbation vanishes, the actual enriched 2nd
order description is:
252
Copyright 2005 Taylor & Francis Group plc, London, UK
The perturbation of plane wave propagation is derived
from this description, In general the frequency depen-
dence of the correction is rather complex due to the
dispersion of the P2 wave. A precise quantification
of these qualitative results would require numerical
modelling of high order tensors or multiple scattering
approximations as proposed by (Tournat et al, 2004).
Let us underline that those results are only valid
in the scale separation frequency range. At higher
frequencies this approach becomes irrelevant: the
scattered waves may radiate in other directions than
the initial wave. Another limitation is the periodic-
ity assumption. It may be inferred that this hypothesis
doesnt modify the nature of the results for long wave
in random media. However, regarding shorter waves
strong divergences has to be expected, since in random
media the diffracted field lose its coherence.
REFERENCES
Allard J.F. 1993. Propagation of Sound in Porous Media.
Modelling Sound Absorbing Materials, Chapman & Hall,
London.
Auriault J.L. 1980. Dynamic behaviour of a porous medium
saturated by a Newtonian fluid. Int. J. Engng. Sci. 18:
775785.
Auriault J.L. 1991. Heterogeneous medium. Is an equivalent
macroscopic description possible? Int. J. Engng Sci. 29(7):
785795.
Auriault J.L., Geindreau C., Boutin C. 2005. Filtration law
in porous media with poor scale separation. Transport in
Porous Media. To appear.
Bakhvalov N., Panasenko G. 1989. Averaging processes in
periodic media. Mathematical problems in mechanics of
composite materials. Kluwer Academic Dordrecht.
Bensssoussan A., Lyons J.L., Papanicolaou G. 1978.
Asymptotic methods in periodic structures. North-Holland
Amsterdam.
Boutin C., Auriault J.L. 1990. Dynamic Behaviour of Por-
ous Media Saturated by a Viscoelastic Fluid. Application
to Bituminous Concrete. Int. J. Engng. Sci., 28(11):
11571181.
Boutin C., Auriault J.L. 1993. Rayleigh scattering in elastic
composite materials, Int. J. Eng. Sci., 31(12): 16691689.
Boutin C. 1996. Microstructural effect in elastic composite.
Int. J. Solids Structures, 33(7): 10231051.
Boutin C. 1995. Microstructural influence on heat conduc-
tion. Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 38(17): 31813195.
Boutin C., Royer P., Auriault J.L. 1998. Acoustic absorption
of porous surfacing with dual porosity. Int. J. of Solids
and Structures Special Issue on poroelasticity, 35(34-35):
47094737.
Gambin B., Krner E. 1989. High-order terms in the homoge-
nized stress-strain relation in periodic elastic media. Phys.
Stat. Sol., (b) 151: 513519.
Sanchez Palencia E. 1980. Nonhomogeneous media and
vibration theory, Lectures notes in Physics, 127, Berlin:
Springer-Verlag.
Tournat V., Pagneux V., Lafarge D., Jaouen L. 2004. Multiple
scattering of acoustic waves and porous absorbing media.
Physical Review E., 70, 026609: 19.