ULTRASONIC TESTING (UT) USEFUL FORMULAE

1. Velocity of Ultrasonic Waves in a medium (V) = f x l

OR

Where
f = Number of cycles per second is called frequency. Measured in Hertz. Abbreviated
as Hz. One Hertz is equivalent to One cycle per second
l = Distance covered in one cycle is wavelength
V= Velocity of Ultrasonic wave inside the medium in mm/s
2. Acoustic Impedance (Z) = V x r
Where:
Z=

Acoustic Impedance

r=

Density

V=

Velocity

3. Reflection Coefficient

Where:
R = Reflection Coefficient
Z1 = Acoustic Impedance of Medium 1
Z2 = Acoustic Impedance of Medium 2

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2011-12

For refererence only. TINT is not responsible for errors and omissions in the data if any.

4. Transmission coefficient
T = 4 Z1Z2/ (Z1+Z2)2
Where:
R = Reflection Coefficient
Z1 = Acoustic Impedance of Medium 1
Z2 = Acoustic Impedance of Medium 2
5. Longitudinal Wave Velocity

Where:
VL =
E =
r =
m =

Longitudinal Wave Velocity

Modulus of Elasticity
Density
Poisson's Ratio

6. Shear Wave Velocity

Where:
Vs =
E =
r =
m =
G=

Shear Wave Velocity

Modulus of Elasticity
Density
Poisson's Ratio
Shear Modulus

7. Refraction - Snell's Law: That is the ratio of sine of the angle to the respective wave
velocities are proportional.

Where:
qI =
qR =
V1 =
V2 =

Angle of the Incident Wave

Angle of the Reflected Wave
Velocity of Incident Wave
Velocity of Reflected Wave

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8. Near Field

Where:
N
D
l
V

=
=
=
=

Near Field
Transducer Diameter
Wavelength
Velocity

9. Beam Spread Half Angle

Where:
l
D
V
F

=
=
=
=

Wavelength
Transducer Diameter
Velocity
Frequency

10. Decibel (dB) Gain or Loss

Where:
dB = Decibel
P1 = Pressure Amplitude 1
P2 = Pressure Amplitude 2
11. Angle Beam testing of Pipe
t=

d(1- Sin )
2

Sin = 1-

2t
d
d = O.D. of Pipe

t = Maximum wall thickness

= Probe angle

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12. Formulae for Angle Beam Calculations

= Sound beam refracted angle in the test material
T = Thickness of the test material

Skip Distance
S = 2T x tan

V-Path Length
2T
cos

V-Path =

Leg Length
T
cos

Leg =

Surface Distnace
SD = sin x Soundpath Length

Depth in First Leg

Depth (1st Leg) = cos x Sound path Length

Depth in Second Leg

Depth (2nd Leg) = 2T (cos x Sound path Length)

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2011-12

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For refererence only. TINT is not responsible for errors and omissions in the data if any.