Testing methods wave-propagation techniques

Whorlow (1992) published a book on rheological techniques that inctudes dynamic tests and wave propagation tests. In the appendix, he listed a number of rheologicat inves-tigahon equipment manufacturers. Some of the techniques appiy more to polymers and are not relevant to our discussion. Dynamic vibration tests have been extended to fresh concrete (Teixera et at., 1998). Concord and Tassin (1998) described a method to use rheo-ophcs for the study of thixotropy in synthetic clay suspensions. A rheometer optical analyzer was used on laponite, a synthetic hectorite clay. Laponite was mixed with water and tests were conducted at various intervals for up to 100 days. Rheo-ophcs seems to be... 

The line-source technique is a transient method capable of very fast measurements. A line source of heat is located at the center of the sample being tested as shown in Fig. 4. The whole is at a constant initial temperature. During the course of the measurement, a known amount of heat is produced by the line source, resulting in a heat wave propagating radially into the sample. The rate of heat propagation is related to the thermal diffusivity of the polymer. The temperature rise of the line somce varies linearly with the logarithm of time. Starting with the Fourier equation, it is possible to develop a relationship which can be used directly to calculate the thermal conductivity of the sample from the slope of the linear portion of the curve ... 

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