Generalized approach to multiphase dielectric mixture theory

A self‐consistent solution for finding the complex dielectric constant of a multiphase mixture with confocal ellipsoidal shell inclusions is presented. Implicit in the solution are the first‐order effects of neighboring inclusions, and hence, the high inclusion density limit is approached correctly. The solution contains the special cases of spherical shells, ellipsoids, spheres, disks, and needles. Reasonable agreement of the theory with some experimental data for wet wood is found. The presence of ellipsoidal shells in a mixture gives rise to a much greater separation between the upper and lower bounds of a mixture dielectric constant as compared to the limits obtained for solid ellipsoidal or spherical inclusions.