University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene

Faculty of Physics
Material Physique
Specialty: Physical Metallurgy and Ultrasonics

◦
TP 03: Measurement of The propagation
velocity and the attenuation coefficient of
ultrasonic waves in a solid.

Objective: In this laboratory session, we aim to determine both the

propagation velocity and the attenuation coefficient of ultrasonic waves in a
Plexiglas solid.

By: Wafa Bourai

October 2023
1 Experimental setup
• GAMPT-scan Echoscope

• 1 Transducer with a nominal frequency of 1 MHz

• 1 Transducer with a nominal frequency of 1 MHz

• 1 Transducer with a nominal frequency of 4 MHz

• Gel

• 1 Caliper

• 2 Transducer holders

• 3 Cylinders in Plexiglas of different lengths.

• 1 Computer

2 Diagram of the experimental setup

The diagram below shows the experimental setup of this experiment.

Figure 1: Experimental setup

3 Theoretical study
3.1 Deriving the wave propagation equation for ultrasonic waves:
The propagation equation for a solid is different than in a fluid because, in a solid, there
is tension and mechanical stress.
When a solid is subjected to deformation, tension acts to return the solid to its equilibrium
state.
Mechanical stress is the external force required to induce deformation in a solid.
These phenomena are governed by Hook’s law that gives us the relation between tension
Tij , mechanical stress Cijkl and deformation Skl in the following equation:

Tij = Cijkl .Skl (1)

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For reasons of symmetry, the matrix simplifies. In our case (isotropic elastic solid), only
two independent elastic constants are required to describe it, namely C11 and C12 .

C11 = C22 = C33 = λ + 2µ (2)

C12 = C13 = C23 = λ (3)

C11 − C12
C44 = C55 = C66 = =µ (4)
2
Substituting (2) (3) (4) into Hook’s law(1):

Tij = λ.S.δij + 2µ.δij (5)

Where δij is Kronecker symbol.

∂Tij ∂ 2 ui
= ρ. 2 (6)
∂xk ∂t
So:
∂ 2 ui ∂ 2 ul
ρ. = C ijkl . (7)
∂t2 ∂xj ∂xk
Which is the Propagation equation for a wave in a solid.
The solution for (8) is:
nj nk
ui (x, t) = u0i .F (t − ) (8)
v
This solution is in the form of a plane wave propagating in the direction of the unit vector
⃗n, which is perpendicular to the wavefront at the origin.
Where v is the propagation velocity.
We also have:
ρv 2 .u0i = Γil .u0l (9)
Γil = Cijkl .nj .nk (10)
Where Γil is Christofel Tensor
Substituting (9) and (10) in (8) we find that:
 
  C 44 0 0
Γil =  0 C44 0  (11)
0 0 C11

Then: s s
C11 λ + 2µ
VL = = (12)
ρ ρ
s r
C44 µ
VT = = (13)
ρ ρ
Where VL and VT are the longitudinal and transversal velocities respectively.

2
3.2 Type of wave that propagates at a normal incidence
The wave that propagates at a normal incidence is a longitudinal wave.
Justification According to Snell-Decarte law:

sin(θi ) = sin(θT L ) = sin(θT T ) = 0 (14)

So: θT L = θT T = 0

4 Experimental Study
4.1 Measure of the propagation velocity
In this Laboratory work, we’re interested in measuring the longitudinal velocity of an ul-
trasonic wave that propagates in a solid, to do that we begin by measuring the LENGTH
L of each of the cylinders, and after that we measure the time of flight TOF ∆t, knowing
that the expression for the velocity is:

Echo: V = 2.L
∆t
L
Transmission: V = ∆t

While the equation is correct, there are still some errors introduced by the protective
layer of the transducer. To eliminate these errors, we use the enhanced formula:

Echo
2.(L2 − L2 )
V = (15)
(∆t2 − ∆t1 )
Transmission

(L2 − L2 )
V = (16)
(∆t2 − ∆t1 )

4.2 Measure of the attenuation coefficient

When a wave propagates in a medium, it experiences energy loss due to various phe-
nomena, including scattering, reflection, absorption, and diffusion. This effect can be
described using the following equation:

I = I0 .e−µs x (17)
µs : the Attenuation coefficient for the intensity
If I1 and I2 are the intensities of the ultrasonic wave after traveling distances x1 and x1 ,
respectively, the attenuation coefficient µ is given by:
1 I
µs = .Ln( 1 )[N eper/cm] (18)
∆x I2
Note that:

∆x = x2 − x1 in the transmission mode.

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∆x = 2.(x2 − x1 ) in the echo mode.

Since acoustic intensity is proportional to the square of the amplitude of acoustic pressure,
the attenuation coefficient can then be expressed as:
2 A
µs = .Ln( 1 ) (19)
∆x A2

If we want to measure the Attenuation Coefficient in dB/cm, we use the following:

µs [dB/cm] = 8.68µs [N eper/cm] (20)

1. Measuring the length of the three cylinders

Knowing that: ∆L = 0.1 mm and ∆t = 0.1 µs

Length [mm]
Cylinder 01 40.1 ± 0.1
Cylinder 02 80.1 ± 0.1
Cylinder 03 120.1 ± 0.1

Table 1: Length of different Cylinders

2. Measure of TOF for the three cylinders at f = 1MHz, and the propaga-
tion velocity

f = 1MHz ∆(µ s) V (m/s)

Transmission Echo Transmission Echo
L1 15.8± 0.1 30.9± 0.1 2537.9± 29 2595.4 ± 17
L2 30.3 ± 0.1 59.9 ± 0.1 2643.5 ± 27 2674.4 ± 16
L3 45.3 ± 0.1 90 ± 0.1 2651.2 ± 14 2668.8 ± 8

Table 2: Measure of TOF for 1MHz Transducer

3. Calculating the propagation velocity

f = 1MHz ∆ti - ∆tj ( µ s) V (m/s)

Transmission Echo Transmission Echo
L2 - L1 14.5± 0.1 29.0± 0.1 2758± 29 2758 ± 17
L3 - L2 15.0 ± 0.1 30.1 ± 0.1 2711 ± 27 2657 ± 16
L3 - L1 29.5 ± 0.1 59.1 ± 0.1 2666 ± 14 2707 ± 8

Table 3: TOF and propagation velocity using the Differential method for 1MHz Trans-
ducer

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 ∆ti - ∆tj V (m/s)
L2 - L1 14.8 ± 0.1 2702 ± 28
L3 - L2 15 ± 0.1 2666 ± 27
L3 - L1 29.8 ± 0.1 2684 ± 14

Table 4: Measure of the propagation velocity in Transmission mode for f = 2MHz

4.3 Studying the results

1. Comparing Different Velocities:
The values of the ultrasonic wave propagation velocities in Plexiglas for the echo
and transmission modes are relatively close. However, the transmission mode is the
most appropriate for these measurements due to significant attenuation in the echo
mode.

2. Measure of TOF for the three cylinders at f = 2MHz and f = 4MHz, and the
propagation velocity:

f = 2MHz

f = 4MHz

∆ti - ∆tj V (m/s)

L2 - L1 14.4 ± 0.1 2777 ± 29
L3 - L2 15 ± 0.1 2666 ± 27
L3 - L1 29.4 ± 0.1 2721 ± 14

Table 5: Measure of the propagation velocity in Transmission mode for f = 4MHz

3. The measured propagation velocity values for the Transmission mode, at frequencies
of 1 MHz, 2 MHz, and 4 MHz.

Frequency (MHz) Average velocity(m/s)

1 2711 ± 23
2 2684 ± 23
4 2721 ± 23

Table 6: Average velocity of ultrasound waves in Plexiglas as a function of the frequency

4. Plotting the propagation velocity as a function of the frequency:

5. Dispersion phenomena:
In the material we are studying, we can observe a dispersion phenomenon, at-

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 Figure 2: Propagation velocity as a function of the frequency in Plexiglas

tributed to the variation in velocity with frequency, although the change is not
substantial.

4.4 Measure of the attenuation coefficient

1. Measure of the attenuation coefficient for f = 1MHz, with constant amplification.

x(cm) 4.39 12.49 21.08 8.45 24.26 31.1 19.57 36.46

A(V) 1.25 1.247 0.393 1.243 1.044 0.109 0.18 0.045
∆x(cm) 0 8.1 16.69 4.06 19.87 26.71 15.18 32.07
µs (neper/cm) - 0.0005 0.139 0.003 0.018 0.183 0.255 0.207
µs (dB/cm) - 0.005 1.204 0.024 0.157 1.586 2.216 1.799
x(cm) 6.08 7.85 8.02 9.74
A(V) 1.202 0.105 0.363 0.105
∆x(cm) 1.69 3.46 3.63 5.35
µs (neper/cm) 0.046 1.432 0.681 0.926
µs (dB/cm) 0.402 12.428 5.913 8.037

Table 7: Attenuation coefficient for a 1MHz transducer

2. Calculating the average attenuation coefficient for f = 1MHz

µs = 0.339 ± 0.001[N eper/cm]

µs = 2.943 ± 0.008[dB/cm]

3. Same measures for 2 and 4 MHz:

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 x(cm) 12.26 8.21 23.92 4.3 12.18 20.02 6.005
A(V) 0.86 1.168 0.029 1.224 0.685 0.029 0.034
∆x(cm) 7.96 3.91 19.62 0 7.88 15.72 1.705
µs (neper/cm) 0.089 0.024 0.382 - 0.147 0.476 4.203
µs (dB/cm) 0.770 0.208 3.311 – 1.279 4.133 36.487

Table 8: Attenuation Coefficient for a 2MHz transducer

x(cm) 12.06 8.02 11.95 23.84 7.96 15.92 15.88
A(V) 0.137 0.415 0.172 0.049 0.895 0.116 0.075
∆x(cm) 4.1 0.06 3.99 15.88 0 7.96 7.92
µs (neper/cm) 0.916 25.618 0.827 0.366 – 0.5134 0.626
µs (dB/cm) 7.9469 20.675 7.176 3.176 – 4.456 5.434

Table 9: Attenuation coefficient for a 4MHz transducer

4. Recap of the attenuation coefficient values for different frequencies:

f (MHz) 1 2 4
µs (Neper/cm) 0.339 ±0.001 0.886 ± 0.001 4.811± 0.001
µs (dB/cm) 2.943 ± 0.008 7.69± 0.008 8.145 ± 0.008

Table 10: Average value for the attenuation coefficient for different frequencies

5. Plotting the attenuation coefficient as a function of the frequency.

Figure 3: Attenuation coefficient as a function of the frequency

6. As the graph shows, we notice that there is a dependency between the frequency
and the attenuation coefficient.

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5 Conclusion
This laboratory work is dedicated to calculating the propagation velocity in a solid, and
the attenuation coefficient, we have faced some issues with some transducers, but we tried
to keep only the logical values.
After all of that, we can conclude that:

• For normal incidence, only longitudinal waves are transmitted.

• The Transmission mode is the most suitable for this type of manipulation.

• The propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves varies with frequency, so there is a

dispersion phenomenon in the Plexiglas.

• There is a frequency-dependent attenuation coefficient.

• The attenuation coefficient varies quadratically with frequency.