K-wave modelling of ultrasound wave propagation in aerogels and the effect of physical parameters on attenuation and loss

Abstract

The complex and highly tortuous microstructure of aerogels has led to the superior insulating capabilities that aerogels are known for. This open cell microstructure has also created a unique acoustic fingerprint that can be manipulated to achieve maximum acoustic insulation/absorption. The goal of this work was to create a computational approach for predicting sound propagation behavior in monolithic aerogels using the wave solving tool k-wave. The model presented here explores attenuation and loss values as a function of density, angle of incidence of wave, and medium (aqueous and non-aqueous) for frequencies in the range of 0.5–1 MHz. High numerical accuracy without a significant computational demand was achieved. Results indicate that loss increases as a function of frequency and the medium that the incoming wave is travelling through dominates the attenuation, loss, and other characteristics more than angle of incidence, and pore structure.