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An In Situ Ultrasonic Technique for Simultaneous Measurement of Longitudinal and Shear Wave Speeds in Solids

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Abstract

Ultrasonic wave speed measurements are widely used to infer the elastic properties of solids. In the standard method, longitudinal and shear transducers are used separately to measure the corresponding wave speeds in a material. A new experimental method is introduced for simultaneously measuring the longitudinal and the shear wave speeds using a single set of longitudinal or shear transducers. The method can also be used to measure the wave speeds in situ during deformation by placing the transducers along the loading axis. The transducers are housed in a specially designed fixture such that they are not subjected to loading. The technique is demonstrated by performing uniaxial compression experiments on fully dense isotropic solids (where the wave speeds are not expected to change during deformation) and in polymeric foams (where the wave speeds are affected by damage).

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research (Dr. Y. D. S. Rajapakse, Program Manager) and is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Aeronautics Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA

    T. H. Kidd, S. Zhuang & G. Ravichandran (SEM member)

Authors
  1. T. H. Kidd
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  2. S. Zhuang
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  3. G. Ravichandran
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Correspondence to G. Ravichandran.

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Kidd, T.H., Zhuang, S. & Ravichandran, G. An In Situ Ultrasonic Technique for Simultaneous Measurement of Longitudinal and Shear Wave Speeds in Solids. Exp Mech 47, 753–759 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-007-9064-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-007-9064-6

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