COMPUTER-CONTROLLED SYSTEM FOR MEASURING 2-DIMENSIONAL ACOUSTIC VELOCITY-FIELDS

An automatic system is described for measuring two-dimensional acoustic velocity fields in solid samples. The measurement is performed by a computer-controlled, mechanically scanned transducer in a liquid bath, and is based on measuring the phase delay of the acoustic wave by a two-pulse echo method. Applications include measuring stress fields due both to externally applied and residual stresses, and microstructure studies of solid samples.