Effect of Size of Inhomogeneity on the Surface Wave Attenuation in Cementitious Media

Abstract

The present study focuses on surface wave propagation in cementitious material with inhomogeneity. Thin, flakey inclusions were added in contents of up to 10% by volume and different sizes inside the matrix to realistically simulate cracking. The results are focused on the attenuation created by the inhomogeneity. As damage is added up in content, the level of attenuation strongly increases for the whole examined frequency band. However, the size and the population of the inclusions present an equally strong influence on the attenuation. The distortion of the frequency content is also evaluated by spectral density functions, showing that simple waveform analysis can enhance the characterization of damage in addition to the valuable assessment based on wave velocity.