Ultrasonic spectroscopy is a technique widely used in solid-state physics, materials science, and geology that utilizes acoustic waves to determine fundamental physical properties of materials, such as their elasticity and mechanical energy dissipation. This book provides complete coverage of the main issues relevant to the design, analysis, and interpretation of ultrasonic experiments. Topics including elasticity, acoustic waves in solids, ultrasonic loss, and the relation of elastic constants to thermodynamic potentials are covered in depth. Modern techniques and experimental methods including resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, digital pulse-echo, and picosecond ultrasound are also introduced and reviewed. This self-contained book includes extensive background theory and is accessible to students new to the field of ultrasonic spectroscopy, as well as to graduate students and researchers in physics, engineering, materials science, and geophysics.

This first procedural guide to RUS, Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy offers a clear step-by-step tutorial, from developing a preliminary set of resonances to final determination of moduli. The book also contains intermediate computer outputs showing where mistakes are made, how to spot them, and how to remeasure to correct problems. Also a complete reference to the language of RUS, this book is full of clear explanations of every variable, concept, and hard-to-find term currently in use.

Written at an intermediate level in a way that is easy to understand, Fundamentals and Applications of Ultrasonic Waves, Second Edition provides an up-to-date exposition of ultrasonics and some of its main applications. Designed specifically for newcomers to the field, this fully updated second edition emphasizes underlying physical concepts over mathematics. The first half covers the fundamentals of ultrasonic waves for isotropic media. Starting with bulk liquid and solid media, discussion extends to surface and plate effects, at which point the author introduces new modes such as Rayleigh and Lamb waves. This focus on only isotropic media simplifies the usually complex mathematics involved, enabling a clearer understanding of the underlying physics to avoid the complicated tensorial description characteristic of crystalline media. The second part of the book addresses a broad spectrum of industrial and research applications, including quartz crystal resonators, surface acoustic wave devices, MEMS and microacoustics, and acoustic sensors. It also provides a broad discussion on the use of ultrasonics for non-destructive evaluation. The author concentrates on the developing area of microacoustics, including exciting new work on the use of probe microscopy techniques in nanotechnology. Focusing on the physics of acoustic waves, as well as their propagation, technology, and applications, this book addresses viscoelasticity, as well as new concepts in acoustic microscopy. It updates coverage of ultrasonics in nature and developments in sonoluminescence, and it also compares new technologies, including use of atomic force acoustic microscopy and lasers. Highlighting both direct and indirect applications for readers working in neighboring disciplines, the author presents particularly important sections on the use of microacoustics and acoustic nanoprobes in next-generation devices and instruments.

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) procedures are needed for materials processing, as well as for post-process materials testing. They play important roles in product design, analysis of service-life expectancy, manufacturing and quality control of manufactured products. They are also essential to on-line monitoring of the integrity of structural elements and complex systems. Rational accept and reject criteria should be based on NDE tests. Critical safety, efficiency and operational features of large-scale structures depend on adequate NDE capabilities. The lectures presented in this volume are concerned with quantitative ultrasonic NDE. They present fundamental concepts and basic theory, as well as applications to the detection of cracks and the evaluation of material properties. The following topics are discussed: basic wave propagation theory for ultrasonic NDE; piezoelectric transducers, EMATS and ultrasonic spectroscopy; laser-based ultrasonics; acoustoelasticity; ultrasound in solids with porosity, microcracking and polycrystalline structuring; the determination of mechanical properties of composite materials; inverse problems and imaging.