Wave propagation across a finite heterogeneous interphase modeled as an interface with material properties

Mechanical problems involving an interphase between two well-defined, and eventually different, materials are of interest. The aim of this paper is to present a simplified model that, for low frequency regime, is appropriate for this situation: an interface model with elastic and inertial properties. We present, together with the equations of motion, an identification procedure that is valid for any mass density profile along the thickness of the interphase. For evaluating the accuracy of the model, computations of the reflection coefficients in some relevant cases are shown. Besides, a finite element method is used as a benchmark for both the high and low frequency regimes. It is worth to be noted that the numerical test has been inspired by the problem of the interphase that is formed at the bone-implant boundary.