Abstract:Based on research into unsaturated porous media, propagation characteristics of S-waves in unsaturated soil were studied by considering the interaction between liquid and gas phases in the pores. Elastic wave equations were established according to the mass balance equation, the momentum balance equation, and the effective stress principle of unsaturated soil. The dispersion equation of S-waves in unsaturated soil was obtained after theoretical deduction. Finally, the influences of saturation degree, frequency, and intrinsic permeability coefficient on S-wave velocity and attenuation coefficient are discussed using numerical examples. Results showed that the wave velocity of S-waves is hardly affected by degree of saturation, but decreases with increasing frequency; it first remains unchanged, then increases with an increasing intrinsic permeability coefficient The attenuation coefficient of S-waves increases with increasing saturation degree and frequency; however, with increasing intrinsic permeability coefficient, it first remains unchanged, then increases, then finally decreases.