A study of the reflection coefficients and backscattering effects of one-dimensional rough poroelastic surfaces using the finite element method

Abstract

The reflection and scattering effects of one-dimensional rough poroelastic surfaces are studied using the finite element method. The poroelastic sediment layer is modeled following the classical work of Biot as extended by Stoll, which assumes that two attenuating compressional waves and one attenuating shear wave propagate in the sediment. The rough surfaces are generated using power-law type spectra and the incident wave used is a Gaussian tapered plane wave. This work seeks to assess how the reflection coefficients and backscattering effects of a poroelastic bottom vary as a function of frequency, roughness, and sediment type. Special consideration is given to the mesh required to accurately resolve the effects of the slow compressional and shear waves, which often have wavespeeds slower than the fast compressional wave by an order of magnitude or more. © 2013 Acoustical Society of America.