Automatic determination of acoustic plate source-detector separation from one waveform.

We discuss an automated procedure for determining the separation between a transient acoustic source and a detector on a plate. We use a time-estimation algorithm based on the assumption that the detected signal is represented by a small, finite number of discrete band-limited impulses. This is carried out using the MUSIC (MUltiple SIgnal Classification) algorithm in time-estimation mode to automatically estimate both the first arrival time of the lowest order antisymmetric (Ao) mode and the arrival time of the Rayleigh wave. Using the material and geometric properties of the plate and these two arrival times, we calculated the distance to the source. This technique allows the automatic determination of source-receiver separation from a single transient waveform.

Measurements of the longitudinal wave speed in thin materials using a wideband PVDF transducer.

A flat transducer was constructed, using a 9-microm-thick PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) film for generation and detection of high-frequency ultrasonic waves, and used for measurements of the phase velocity of longitudinal waves traveling along the thickness direction in a very thin material. The transducer has a useful wideband frequency characteristic extending from 10 MHz to over 150 MHz. Measurements of the phase velocity of the longitudinal waves are carried out using a 0.212-mm-thick glass slide and a 0.102-mm-thick stainless-steel shim, using water as a coupling medium. The thickness limit for this measurement appears to be approximately 20 microm. The phase velocity of the longitudinal mode is obtained as a function of frequency in the frequency domain by using a modified sampled continuous wave (cw) technique. It can also be measured in the time domain by using a broadband pulse of short duration.

Wideband high-frequency line-focus PVDF transducer for materials characterization.

This paper presents the design, fabrication, operating characteristics and applications of a wideband, high-frequency, line-focus beam transducer we constructed using a 9 microm thick piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film. This transducer possesses a focal length of 2.38 mm and an aperture angle of 84 degrees. The frequency spectrum of the signal measured at the focal point indicates that the transducer has a wide frequency response which extends from 10 MHz to over 100 MHz. When compensated for the frequency-dependent attenuation of the coupling medium, the operational frequency exceeds 150 MHz. The transducer can be operated in a time-resolved pulse mode or in a radio-frequency (rf) tone burst mode. An application of the transducer to determine the anisotropic elastic property of a silicon wafer is demonstrated. The phase velocities of surface acoustic waves (SAW) propagating along various directions on the (001) surface of cubic silicon are measured and compared to computed values.

A time-resolved method for nonlinear ultrasonic measurements.

We describe a time-resolved method for measuring nonlinear ultrasonic phenomena. Current approaches rely on a narrowband measurement of harmonic generation to identify and characterize nonlinearity. Concomitant with these techniques is poor time resolution. We address this limitation with a hybrid narrowband/broadband approach that provides simultaneous time resolution and harmonic isolation for the measurement of weak nonlinearites. We discuss applications and present demonstrative results showing harmonic generation both in water and at a dry contact aluminum-aluminum interface.