The influence of random microstructure on wave propagation through heterogeneous media

In this paper the influence of mechanical and geometrical properties, both deterministic and stochastic in nature, of a heterogeneous periodic composite material on wave propagation has been analysed in terms of the occurrence of stopbands. Numerical analyses have been used to identify those parameters that have the most significant effect on the wave filtering properties of the medium. A striking conclusion is that randomness in geometrical properties has a much larger effect that randomness in mechanical properties.