Characterization of rigid open-cell foams using direct ultrasonic simulation

An ultrasonic simulation technique based on the direct fluid model is proposed as an alternative to the analogous experimental technique to determine the tortuosity and characteristic lengths for high pore-density foams. It is beneficial as it reduces cost and almost eliminates the signal-to-noise issues encountered in the experiment. The proposed method is demonstrated for periodic microlattices with three different unit-cell configurations, 75%-90% porosity, and a pore size of about 200 microns. The technique is also applicable to high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans of open-cell foams with a priori unknown microporous structure. An acoustic simulation software, ACTRAN® (Hexagon AB, Stockholm, Sweden), is used to model and perform analysis of the ultrasonic pulse propagation through the foam. Based on through-transmission by foam saturated with two different mediums, the tortuosity, and characteristic lengths are estimated from the high-frequency asymptotic behavior of the square of the propagation index (Nr2) versus the inverse square root of frequency (1/f). The predicted parameters are validated by comparing them with those determined by solving the electric conduction boundary value problem for the same configuration. Further, detailed parametric sensitivity analysis reveals the sensitivity of the Johnson-Champoux-Allard parameters to errors in Nr2 and so the effect of these errors on the acoustic absorption behavior of the rigid porous sample.