Ultrasonic reflection coefficient

Tsukahara, Y., Takeuchi, E Hayashi, E., and Tani, Y. (1984). A new method of measuring surface layer-thickness using dips in angular dependence of reflection coefficients. IEEE 1984 Ultrasonics Symposium, pp. 992-6. IEEE, New York. [214] Tsukahara, Y Nakaso, N., Kushibiki, J., and Chubachi, N. (1989a). An acoustic micrometer and its application to layer thickness measurements. IEEE Trans. UFFC 36, 326-31. [213-215]... 

The impedance is practically important because it determines the proportion of an ultrasonic wave which is reflected from a boundary between materials. When a plane ultrasonic wave is incident on a plane interface between two materials of different acoustic impedance it is partly reflected and partly transmitted (Figure 3). The ratios of the amplitudes of the transmitted (At) and reflected (Ar) waves to that of the incident wave (Aj) are called the transmission (T) and reflection coefficients (R), respectively. 

The greater the difference in acoustic impedance between the two materials the greater the fraction of ultrasound reflected. This has important consequences for the design and interpretation of ultrasonic experiments. For example, to optimize the transmission of ultrasound from one material to another it is necessary to chose two materials with similar acoustic impedance. To optimize the reflection coefficient materials with very different acoustic impedance should be used. The acoustic impedance of a material is often determined by measuring the fraction of ultrasound reflected from its surface. 

The subscripts 1 and 2 refer to the material the wave travels in and the material that is reflected by or transmitted into, respectively. These equations show that the maximum transmission of ultrasound occurs when the impedances and Z2 of the two materials are identical. The materials are then said to be acoustically matched. If the materials have very different impedances, then most of the US is reflected. The reflection and transmission of ultrasound at boundaries has important implications on the design of ultrasonic experiments and the interpretation of their results. In addition, measurements of the reflection coefficient are often used to calculate the impedance of a material. 

ANL s ultrasonic viscometer is a nonintrusive in-line device that measures both fluid density and viscosity. The design of the viscometer is based on a technique that measures acoustic and shear impedance. The technique was first applied by Moore and McSkimin (1970) to measure dynamic shear properties of solvents and polystyrene solutions. The reflections of incident ultrasonic shear (1-10 MHz) and longitudinal waves (1 MHz), launched toward the surfaces of two transducer wedges that are in contact with the fluid, are measured. The reflection coefficients, along with the speed of sound in the fluid, are used to calculate fluid density and viscosity. Oblique incidence was commonly used because of better sensitivity, but mode-converted waves often occur in wedges that do not exhibit perfect crystal structure and lack well-polished surfaces. For practical applications, we use the normal-incidence arrangement. 

Dewen, P.N. and Cawley, R, Ultrasonic determination of the cohesive properties of bonded joints by measurement of reflection coefficient and bondline transit time. / Adhes., 40, 207-227 (1993). 

Lowe, M. and Cawley, R, Comparison of reflection coefficient minima with dispersion curves for ultrasonic waves in embedded layers. Rev. Prog. Quant. Nondestruct. Eval., 14B, 1505-1512(1995). 

An ultrasonic procedure has been developed to emit pulses of mixed frequencies and record reflection fi om an oil film. The signals are processed to give reflection coefficient spectra and lubricant film thickness. 

Each echo has traveled a distance twice the cell length d further than the previous echo and so the velocity can be calculated by measuring the time delay t between successive echoes c = 2d/t. The cell length is determined accurately by calibration with a material of known ultrasonic velocity, e.g. distilled water 2d = cw.tw (where the subscripts refer to water). The attenuation coefficient is determined by measuring the amplitudes of successive echoes A = A0e-2cxd, and comparing them to the values determined for a calibration material. A number of sources of errors have to be taken into account if accurate measurements are to be made, e.g., diffraction and reflection (see below). 

The viscosity coefficients may also be determined by studying the reflexion of ultrasonic shear waves at a solid-nematic interface. The technique was developed by Martinoty and Candau. A thin film of a nematic liquid crystal is taken on the surface of a fused quartz rod with obliquely cut ends (fig. 3.7.1). A quartz crystal bonded to one of the ends generates a transverse wave. At the solid-nematic interface there is a transmitted wave, which is rapidly attenuated, and a reflected wave which is received at the other end by a second quartz crystal. The reflexion coefficient, obtained by measuring the amplitudes of reflexion with and without the nematic sample, directly yields the effective coefficient of viscosity. 

The adhesivity of a coating can be determined with ultrasonic microscopy by calculating the coefficient of reflectivity at the metal-coating interface under 25-27°C. The values of this coefficient show the difference between perfect and imperfect adhesion [69]. 

R. Kuc and M. Schwartz, Estimating the acoustic attenuation coefficient slope for liver from reflected ultrasound signals, IEEE Trans. Sonics Ultrason., vol. SU-26, pp. 353-362, Sept. 1979. 

Determination of the viscosity coefficients from the mechanical wave propagation and attenuation in the ordered nonatic phase is probably the closest to the first principles methods. The shear impedance technique is based on measuring the reflection and attenuation of ultrasonic shear waves [90-92]. The conqtlex shear impedance of the nematic sample, Zn = Rn + iXn, is determined from the complex... 

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