skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Resonant ultrasound spectrometer

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5772562

This patent describes an ultrasound resonant spectrometer determines the resonant frequency spectrum of a rectangular parallel-epiped sample of a high dissipation material over an expected resonant response frequency range. A sample holder structure grips corners of the sample between piezoelectric drive and receive transducers. Each transducer is mounted on a membrane for only weakly coupling the transducer to the holder structure and operatively contacts a material effective to remove system resonant responses at the transducer from the expected response range. i.e., either a material such as diamond to move the response frequencies above the range or a damping powder to preclude response within the range. A square-law detector amplifier receives the response signal and retransmits the signal on an isolated shield of connecting cabling to remove cabling capacitive effects. The amplifier also provides a substantially frequency independently voltage divider with the receive transducer. The spectrometer is extremely sensitive to enable low amplitude resonance to be detected for use in calculating the elastic constants of the high dissipation sample.

Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (USA)
Patent Number(s):
US 4976148; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-406007
OSTI ID:
5772562
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 12 Sep 1989
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English