The paper presents theoretical and experimental issues related to modeling of elastic wave propagation in cancellous bone. The Biot’s theory, commonly used for modeling of ultrasonic wave propagation in cancellous bone, is discussed in context of its potential applicability for theoretical prediction of wave parameters. Particular attention is focused on the analysis of physical mechanisms of ultrasonic wave propagation in cancellous bone that govern phase velocity and attenuation coefficient as function of frequency and porosity. The analysis of the model is focused on the absorption and scattering mechanisms responsible for attenuation of ultrasonic waves in cancellous bone, which based on the ultrasonic experiments presumably play a predominant role in the total attenuation. The suitability of the model is discussed and verified by comparison of results of sensitivity analysis of the model with experimental ultrasonic data for bone mimicking phantoms and human cancellous bones.
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