Miniature piezoelectric conical transducer: fabrication, evaluation and application

This paper reports a new type miniature-conical transducer for acoustic emission measurements. The transducer follows the basic idea and structure of a conventional NBS conical transducer, but is much compact in size and easier to use. The improvements are made possible by introducing an excimer laser micromachining method for fabricating smaller PZT conical elements, which play a key role in the transducer. Conical PZT elements with contact size less then 300 microm are laser-machined and the miniature-conical transducers are constructed. Standard quantitative acoustic emission testing is performed on a plate using the fabricated transducers and good results are observed. The transducers can be very useful in many applications involving quantitative measurements of transient elastic waves.     

ARDESIA: A fast silicon drift detector X-ray spectrometer for synchrotron applications

ARDESIA, a four-channel X-ray spectrometer based on silicon drift detectors (SDDs), is presented. It has been developed for synchrotron applications targeting especially X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) with good energy resolution at high count rates (a few Mcps per second). The main target applications are XRF and XAFS techniques. The system features a 2 × 2 monolithic array of 5-mm-pitch SDDs cooled with a double Peltier scheme and coupled to a four-channel CUBE charge preamplifier. Different digital pulse processors allowing operation in Mcps per second count rates are employed. The results of preliminary characterization measurements performed at both the LNF DAΦNE-Light DXR1 beamline and the ESRF LISA BM-08 are reported, in particular, XRF measurements on low atomic number elements (down to the Carbon K-line, 270 eV) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure of trace materials in pyrite.     

Structural phase transition in ferroelectric fluorine polymers: X-ray diffraction and infrared/Raman spectroscopic study

The structural phase transition has been investigated by X-ray diffraction and infrared and Raman spectroscopic measurements for ferroelectric fluorine polymers, including poly(vinylidene fluoride) and its copolymers with trifluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene. One of the most characteristic features of this ferroelectric transition is the large conformational change of the molecular chains between the trans and gauche rotational isomers, quite different from the structural change observed generally in the usual ionic ferroelectric materials. The crystallization and transition behaviors depend sensitively on the monomer composition in the copolymers as well as on the sample preparation conditions. The roles of the optic and acoustic phonons in the ferroelectric phase transition have been discussed based on the temperature dependences of the far-infrared spectra and the ultrasonic velocity.     

Interpretation of gas oscillations in multicylinder fluid machinery manifolds by using lumped parameter descriptions

Fluid pressure oscillations are complicated in multicylinder positive displacement machinery manifolds because of the cylinder interactions due to (i) the kinematic arrangements between cylinders and (ii) the inter-connected manifold elements. In practice, manifolds possess irregular shapes and geometries. These are difficult to analyze by using a continuous parameters approach; however, the manifold components can be discretized easily and described by acoustic lumped parameters. Additionally, this approach is more suitable for developing design guidelines, which is the primary aim of the present paper. The multicylinder interaction problem is formulated in the frequency domain. Mass flow rates, with proper crank phase relationships, are considered excitation sources. Manifold components are described as acoustic elements. The equations of acoustic motion are solved for the eigenvalues and the natural modes of gas oscillation, and these are used to provide the forced acoustic response. The formulations are then applied to a two-cylinder compressor discharge system. The computed results compare well with measurements.     

Visualization of surface acoustic wave scattering by dislocations

Stroboscopic X-ray topography at the synchrotron beam line was used to visualize the propagation of a 580 MHz surface acoustic waves (SAW) in LiNbO3 crystals. For this purpose, the X-ray bursts coming from the synchrotron storage ring with periodicity of 5.68 MHz were synchronized with the SAW frequency in a phase-locked mode. This method allowed us to "stop" the SAW in time and to observe the X-ray diffraction contrast caused by the dynamic deformation field of SAW. The X-ray topographic images showed well-resolved individual acoustic wave fronts of 6 microm SAW as well as their distortions due to SAW scattering by linear dislocations. Some of the images revealed an exceptional contrast of the concentric rings about the dislocation line, which is caused by coherent interaction of the secondary elastic waves. This contrast is similar to the Fresnel zones in optics, and this conclusion is confirmed by direct summation of secondary waves emitted by local elements of a vibrating dislocation string.     

A characterization of the scattered acoustic intensity field in the resonance region for simple spheres

The properties of the scattered acoustic vector fields generated by simple spheres illuminated by monotonic continuous wave (CW) plane waves are investigated. Analytical solutions are derived from general acoustic pressure scattering models and analyzed for wave numbers in the resonance region. Of particular interest is the understanding of the characteristics of the scattered acoustic vector field in the near-to-far-field transition region. The separable active and reactive components of the acoustic intensity are used to investigate the structural features of the scattered field components. Numerical results are presented for the near and transition regions for a rigid sphere. A method of mapping nulls in the scattered intensity field components is described. The analysis is then extended to include a simple fluid-filled boundary and finally the evacuated thin-walled shell. Near field acoustic intensity field structures are compared against mechanical material properties of vacuous shells. The ability to extract scattered field features is illustrated with measurements obtained from a recent in-air experiment using an anechoic chamber and acoustic vector sensor probes to measure the scattered acoustic vector field from rigid spheres.     

Acoustic Profiling of Bottom Sediments in Large Oil Storage Tanks

Characteristic features of acoustic profiling of bottom sediments in large oil storage tanks are considered. Basic acoustic parameters of crude oil and bottom sediments are presented. It is shown that, because of the presence of both transition layers in crude oil and strong reverberation effects in oil tanks, the volume of bottom sediments that is calculated from an acoustic surface image is generally overestimated. To reduce the error, additional post-processing of acoustic profilometry data is proposed in combination with additional measurements of viscosity and tank density distributions in vertical at several points of the tank.     

On an Integrated Transfer Matrix method for multiply connected mufflers

The commercial automotive mufflers are generally of a complicated shape with multiply connected parts and complex acoustic elements. The analysis of such complex mufflers has always been a great challenge. In this paper, an Integrated Transfer Matrix method has been developed to analyze complex mufflers. Integrated transfer matrix relates the state variables across the entire cross-section of the muffler shell, as one moves along the axis of the muffler, and can be partitioned appropriately in order to relate the state variables of different tubes constituting the cross-section. The paper presents a generalized one-dimensional (1-D) approach, using the transfer matrices of simple acoustic elements, which are available from the literature. The present approach is robust and flexible owing to its capability to construct an overall matrix of the muffler with the transfer matrices of individual acoustic elements and boundary conditions, which can then be used to evaluate the transmission loss, insertion loss, etc. Results from the present approach have been validated through comparisons with the available experimental and three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) based results. The results show good agreement with both measurements and FEM analysis up to the cut-off frequency.     

Middle-ear circuit model parameters based on a population of human ears

Middle-ear circuit model parameters are selected to produce overall magnitude and phase agreement with pressure to stapes velocity transfer function measurements made on 16 human temporal bones, up to approximately 12 kHz. The circuit model, which was previously used for the cat, represents the tympanic membrane (TM) as a distributed parameter acoustic transmission line, and ossicular chain and cochlea as a network of lumped circuit elements. For some ears the TM transmission line primarily affects the magnitude of the response, while for others it primarily affects the phase. Model responses also compare favorably with velocity ratio data between the umbo and stapes footplate as well as between the umbo and incus, and exhibit similar characteristics to three previous input impedance measurements, including two from living ears. Similarities are also shown between the model magnitude and adjusted pressure to stapes velocity measurements from living ears, suggesting that the model may suitably approximate the behavior of living ears. In addition to fitting individual measurements, a set of parameters is selected to produce agreement with the mean of the 16 measurements up to 10 kHz, to allow the main features of the ensemble to be reproduced from a single parameter set.     

Revealing surface anomalies in structures by in situ measurement of acoustic energy absorption

An improved method is proposed for revealing surface anomalies in structures by in situ relative measurement of acoustic energy absorption. Characterization and mapping of particular structures, such as plasters of antique mural paintings are taken into account as a possible application. In situ measurements of the acoustic energy absorption are carried out, employing a diagnostic technique based on the Cepstrum algorithm. Tests on samples with artificially prepared specimens, simulating surface anomalies, are described and a collection of acoustic images is presented. Properties of the specimens and features of the experimental technique are discussed.     

Customization of the acoustic field produced by a piezoelectric array through interelement delays

A method for producing a prescribed acoustic pressure field from a piezoelectric array was investigated. The array consisted of 170 elements placed on the inner surface of a 15 cm radius spherical cap. Each element was independently driven by using individual pulsers each capable of generating 1.2 kV. Acoustic field customization was achieved by independently controlling the time when each element was excited. The set of time delays necessary to produce a particular acoustic field was determined by using an optimization scheme. The acoustic field at the focal plane was simulated by using the angular spectrum method, and the optimization searched for the time delays that minimized the least squared difference between the magnitudes of the simulated and desired pressure fields. The acoustic field was shaped in two different ways: the -6 dB focal width was increased to different desired widths and the ring-shaped pressure distributions of various prescribed diameters were produced. For both cases, the set of delays resulting from the respective optimization schemes were confirmed to yield the desired pressure distributions by using simulations and measurements. The simulations, however, predicted peak positive pressures roughly half those obtained from the measurements, which was attributed to the exclusion of nonlinearity in the simulations.     

Development of In-Situ/Operando Sample Cells for Soft X-ray Transmission Spectromicroscopy at UVSOR-III Synchrotron

In-situ/operando techniques have been developed for spectromicroscopic studies of heavy elements using hard X-rays with high transmittance in samples and long focal length of optical elements (i.e., long working distance) at photon energies >4 keV. On the other hand, in-situ measurements in the soft X-ray region for spectromicroscopic studies of light elements at deep inner shells and heavy elements at shallow inner shells face significant technical challenges due to several difficulties, including low transmittance and short focal lengths of optical elements. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) in the soft X-ray region is a promising technique for in-situ observation in comparison with other microscopic techniques using electrons and ions, considering its characteristics, such as high resolving power in energy and in space, low radiation damage, and two-dimensional (and three-dimensional) chemical state analysis using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure.     

利用等离子体声源测量浅海低频段水声信道特性

浅海水声信道的结构特征及其变化特性是浅海环境水下远程探测和通讯应用的基础.为了有效测量低频水声信道特性,我们在实验中采用了拖曳等离子体声源和垂直阵接收系统。通过实验测量与信道模型仿真输出的比较,对等离子体声源特性,特别是脉冲波形、空间指向性和电声转换效率,以及在信道中的传播特性等进行测量分析。结果表明:实验测量与信道模型仿真符合良好,实验中采用的等离子体声源的发射源级和拖曳姿态稳定,波形一致性好,可以满足走航式连续水下信道测量要求。      

The three-measurement two-calibration method for measuring the transfer matrix

Extensive use of transfer matrices (TMs) is made in determining the acoustic properties of a duct and in in-duct acoustic propagation models in the automotive industry and for musical acoustics purposes. The experimental apparatuses of classical TM measurement methods feature two measurement heads. Two microphones are flush with the walls of each head. The pressure signals are processed following the transfer function method constructed on an analytical model of acoustic propagation in measurement heads. The present paper aims at presenting a measurement method based on a three-microphone experimental apparatus and on its acoustic calibration through two reference measurements: the three-measurement two-calibration method for measuring the TM (3M2C-TM). Two microphones are flush with the measurement head walls and one is in the cap closing one side of the measured duct. 3M2C-TM proved essential for an accurate measurement of the four TM elements of two different ducts: a cylindrical duct and an expansion chamber.     

Improvement of the focusing quality by parametric phase conjugation of ultrasonic beams in a ferrite cylinder with grooved working surface

Results of direct measurements of the acoustic pressure distribution in a phase-conjugate ultrasonic beam in the focus of a converging lens are presented for two types of parametric phase-conjugating elements, namely, with flat and grooved working surfaces. It is demonstrated that grooving noticeably improves the quality of focusing of an ultrasonic beam generated in water by a solid phase-conjugating element.     

Learned vocalizations in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus): the relationship between contact calls and warble song

The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) has an extraordinarily complex, learned, vocal repertoire consisting of both the long rambling warble song of males and a number of short calls produced by both sexes. In warble, the most common elements (>30%) bear a strong resemblance to the highly frequency-modulated, learned contact calls that the birds produce as single utterances. However, aside from this apparent similarity, little else is known about the relationship between contact calls and warble call elements. Here, both types of calls were recorded from four male budgerigars. Signal analysis and psychophysical testing procedures showed that the acoustic features of these two vocalizations were acoustically different and perceived as distinctive vocalizations by birds. This suggests that warble call elements are not simple insertions of contact calls but are most likely different acoustic elements, created de novo, and used solely in warble. Results show that, like contact calls, warble call elements contain information about signaler identity. The fact that contact calls and warble call elements are acoustically and perceptually distinct suggests that they probably represent two phonological systems in the budgerigar vocal repertoire, both of which arise by production learning.     

The relationship between measured vibrato characteristics and perception in Western operatic singing

This study examined the association between acoustic and perceptual data related to vibrato in Western operatic singing using recordings of performances by internationally famous opera singers. Three related studies were conducted. Study 1 used commercial recordings of the same five singers and the same cadenza examined by Siegwart and Scherer(1), measured vibrato rate and extent in each singer's performance of the cadenza and tested possible associations between these vibrato attributes and judges' preference for singers. Studies 2 and 3, using recordings of different internationally famous singers and a different cadenza, measured vibrato onset, rate, and extent in each singer's performance of the cadenza, required judges to rank the singers in order of personal preference, to identify the emotion expressed, and to assess the degree of success in communicating emotion achieved by the singer. The findings showed that the perception of the singers' vibrato did not always agree with acoustic measurements. However, a comparison of the acoustic measurements with the preference and emotion judgments suggest that some elements of vibrato may affect listeners' perception of the voice, their preference for a particular singer, and assist the communication of emotion between singer and audience.     

Low frequency pressure waves in a vapor-liquid medium with a fixed layer of spherical particles

The features of the propagation of low-frequency pressure waves in a liquid-vapor flow through a layer of close-packed spherical solid particles have been studied. Principal measurements have been performed at two pressure values, mainly 0.2 and 0.6 MPa; in a cylindrical channel using lead balls sized 3 and 8 mm. The experimental results allowed defining the characteristic parameters and conditions providing that the wave’s propagation velocity coincides with the thermodynamic equilibrium’s acoustic speed in the vapor-liquid mixture. The results show the dispersive nature of the acoustic speed in the vapor-liquid medium.     

Ionenschallinstabilitäten in Edelgas-Gleichstromentladungen bei niedrigen Drücken. II. Vergleich der experimentellen Ergebnisse mit einer eindimensionalen kinetischen Dispersionstheorie

The experimental measurements of the propagation properties of self-exicted ion acoustic waves in a de-low pressure column are compared with a one dimensional dispersion theory. The corresponding dispersion relation is developed starting from the linearised Vlasov equation with a Davydov-type collision term. It is shown, that the mean features of the propagation behaviour of the ion acoustic waves can be explained by the theory. The experimental results concerning the dependence of the upper limit frequency of the waves upon the discharge current should be analysed on the base of new results from plasma diagnostics, taking also into account nonlinear and geometrical effects.     

Correlation of calculated and measured 2p spin-orbit splitting by electron spectroscopy using monochromatic x-radiation

In the past, measurements have been made of the spin-orbit splitting (2p3/₂ -2p1/₂) of medium to large atomic number elements. The present work is concerned with the 2p splitting in elements of low atomic number (e.g. Si,P, S, Cl). We have measured the splitting in such elements by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA) with the aid of an X-ray monochromator attachment which is described. The results are in good agreement with data obtained by X-ray spectroscopic techniques, and with a theoretical prediction based on the Sommerfeld formula, with a screening constant of S = 3.40. Moreover, the modified formula holds for elements up to Z = 30 as well as for the lower atomic numbers if allowances are made for deviations in the first period of transition elements which may be accounted for by the assumption of interactions between the 2p electrons and unpaired electrons in the 3d level.