Evaluation of Ultrasonic Testing in Rock Material Characterization

Although ultrasonic testing is simple and nondestructive, its potential has not yet been fully utilized in rock material characterization because the experimental setup and the methodology adopted strongly influence the characteristics of the ultrasonic beam, and hence the resultant ultrasonic velocity of the specimen under investigation. This paper focuses on the importance of the selection and use of ultrasonic wave transducers in rock material characterization. It illustrates both theoretically and experimentally how different transducer parameters control the efficiency of ultrasonic velocity as an indicator of microfabric changes. The study reveals that the existing standards do not provide sufficient and/or practical guidelines on a number of issues, and calls for consideration of the proposed modifications. Copyright © 2006 by ASTM International.