Influence of multiple scattering in heterogeneous concrete on results of the surface wave inverse problem

• Impact of multiple scattering on the results of the dispersion curve inversion.
• Use of a global neighborhood algorithm considering a homogeneous stratified medium.
• After inversion, a layer with a depth close to the inclusion diameter appears.
• The shear wave velocity profiles correspond to porosity variations less than 0.34%.

This paper computes the phase velocity dispersion curves of coherent surface waves by taking into account multiple scattering in an elastic matrix containing elastic circular inclusions. The computed dispersion curves are inverted with a global neighborhood algorithm that considers a stratified medium with linear homogeneous and isotropic elastic layers. The impact of multiple scattering on the results is quantified. Since the surface wave phase velocity is not constant with frequency, the inversion provides solutions composed of homogeneous layers. The shear wave velocity profiles of the inverted medium and their impact on concrete porosity estimation is the subject of discussion.