Ultrasonic transducers characterisation for evaluation of stiff geomaterials

The pulse velocity test (PVT) is an ASTM standard for the dynamic characterisation of geomaterials such as stiff clays, cemented sands, rooks and concrete. The PVT is based on the first arrival of the compressional wave. The analysis of full waveforms in ultrasonic testing is important in evaluating the variation with frequency of the dynamic properties of materials (phase velocity and material damping). Reliable full waveforms are also required to calibrate numerical simulations for the interpretation of ultrasonic wave propagation in viscoelastic materials. However, the analysis of full waveforms is rarely performed in practice because of the difficulties involved in the characterisation of ultrasonic transducers and their coupling with the medium. This paper presents a new methodology for measurement of the frequency response and impulse response functions of ultrasonic transducers. The proposed methodology uses the complex exponential method to extract dynamic properties from impulse response functions. Ultrasonic tests and numerical simulations are conducted on a calibration aluminium bar and a cemented sand specimen to demonstrate the applicability of the new methodology. The results show that this methodology can be successfully used for dynamic characterisation of ultrasonic transducers for evaluation of the wave velocity and damping ratio of stiff geomaterials.