Ultrasonics
Ultrasonic is the sound of frequency more than 20 KHz.
Principle :- When ultrasonics are introduced in material, it gets reflected,
transmitted or scattered from the surface.
Characteristics of ultrasonic waves:-
1. Ultrasonic waves have higher energy due to their high frequency.
2. Ultrasonic waves exhibit least diffraction through the medium of propagation.
3. Ultrasonic waves have less attenuation compared to normal sound waves.
Properties of Ultrasound waves:-
1. The frequency of ultrasonic waves is greater than 20 kHz
2. The penetration power of ultrasonic waves is greater due to their smaller
wavelengths.
3. As ultrasonic waves are mechanical waves, they cannot travel through vacuum.
4. The speed of Ultrasonic waves is the same as that of speed of the sound in the
medium. They have maximum velocity in a denser medium.
5. Ultrasonic waves travel with a constant speed in a homogeneous medium.
6. Ultrasonic waves produce vibrations in low viscosity liquids.
7. Ultrasonic waves undergo reflection, refraction and absorption.
8. Due to higher frequency, ultrasonic waves have high energy content. They can
be transmitted over a large distance without much loss of energy.
9. Ultrasonic waves produce intense heat when they are passed through objects.
10. Ultrasonic waves produce alternate compressions and rarefactions in the
medium as they are longitudinal waves.
Generation of Ultrasonic Waves by Inverse Piezoelectric Effect
Inverse piezo electric effect :- If mechanical pressure is applied to one pair of
opposite faces of certain crystals like quartz, equal and opposite electrical
charges appear across its other faces. This is called as piezo-electric effect.
The converse of piezo electric effect is also true.
If an electric field is applied to one pair of faces, the corresponding changes in
the dimensions of the other pair of faces of the crystal are produced. This is
known as inverse piezo electric effect.
Construction:-
The quartz crystal is placed between two metal plates A and B.
The plates are connected to the primary (L3) of a transformer T₁ which is inductively
coupled to the electronic oscillator.
The electronic oscillator circuit is a base tuned oscillator circuit.
The coils L₁ and L₂ of oscillator circuit are taken from the secondary of a transformer T 2.
The collector coil L2 is inductively coupled to base coil L₁.
The coil L₁ and variable capacitor C₁ form the tank circuit of the oscillator.
Working:-
When H.T. battery is switched on, the oscillator produces high frequency alternating
voltage having frequency.
Due to the transformer action, an oscillatory e.m.f. is induced in the coil L3. This high
frequency alternating voltages are fed on the plates A and B.
Inverse piezo-electric effect takes place and the crystal starts to contract and expand
alternatively. The crystal is thus set into mechanical vibrations.
The frequency of the vibration is given by,
where P = 1,2,3,4.... etc. for fundamental, first over tone, second over tone etc.,
Y = Young's modulus of the crystal and
ρ = density of the crystal.
The variable condenser C₁ is adjusted such that the frequency of the applied AC voltage
is equal to the natural frequency of the quartz crystal.Once the frequency equals, the
resonance takes place and the crystal produces longitudinal ultrasonic waves of
maximum amplitude.
Engineering applications
Pulse Echo UT method
Procedure:-
-In this case only one transducer is used.
-This transducer acts as transmitter as well as receiver.
-Initially transducer acts as transmitter, it converts electrical energy into sound energy. This
sound pulse travels through the material and reflected by crack or opposite wall and return back.
-Now the transducer acts as receiver. The received sound energy is converted into electrical
pulse.
-This signal pulse sent to CRT screen, by observing screen you can understand flaw is present in
material or material is flawless.
