Sound at an Interface

• Sound will be either transmitted across

or reflected back
Reflected

How much is reflected and

Interface transmitted depends upon the
relative acoustic impedance of
the 2 materials

Transmitted
 Acoustic Impedance
• Definition • Formula
The Resistance to the
passage of sound Z   V
within a material  = Density , V = Velocity

• Steel 46.7 x 106

• Measured in
• Water 1.48 x 106
kg / m2 x sec • Air 0.0041 x 106
• Perspex 3.2 x 106
 % Sound Reflected at an
Interface
2
 Z1  Z 2 
   100  % reflected
 Z1  Z 2 

% Sound Reflected + % Sound Transmitted = 100%

Therefore
% Sound Transmitted = 100% - % Sound Reflected
 Sound at an Interface
• Sound will be either transmitted across
or reflected back
Reflected

How much is reflected and

Interface transmitted depends upon the
relative acoustic impedance of
the 2 materials

Transmitted
How much sound is reflected at a steel to water
interface?
• Z1 (Steel) = 46.7 x 106
• Z2 (Water) =1.48 x 106
2
 46.7  1.48 
 46.7  1.48   100  % reflected

2
 45.22 
 48.18   100  % reflected

0. 93856 100  88.09% reflected

2
 How much sound transmitted?

100 % - the reflected sound

Example : Steel to water

100 % - 88 % ( REFLECTED) = 12 % TRANSMITTED

The BIGGER the Acoustic Impedance Ratio

or Difference between the two materials:
More sound REFLECTED than transmitted.
 Air Steel

Steel
Air
Large Acoustic Impedance Large Acoustic Impedance
Ratio Ratio

Steel Aluminum

Steel
Steel

No Acoustic Impedance Small Acoustic Impedance

Difference Difference
 Ultrasonic Displays
• A scan
The CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display
The Horizontal axis :
Represents time base / beam path length / distance
/ depth
The Vertical axis :
Represent the amount of sound energy
returned to the crystal