A viscoelastic model for random ultrasound propagation in cancellous bone

In this paper, we perform time-domain simulations of ultrasound interrogations on cancellous bone. We are interested in describing the attenuation of displacement as a function of frequency as well as of bone porosity. A representative volume element for the cancellous bone is constructed using a two-dimensional random distribution of fluid and solid particles, via the turning bands method. Our numerical results compare favorably with those obtained from homogenization methods. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.