This topic is mapped with CO3 , CO4, CO5 and CO6 of course

Ultrasonic Waves and their properties:

Sound wave is a vibration that is transmitted through a medium, such as air, water,
and metals. Ultrasonic wave is defined as “inaudible sound with high frequency
for human” the frequency of which generally exceeds 20 kHz. These days, sound
wave which is not intended to be heard is also called ultrasonic wave.

Fig.1 Range of Ultrasonic waves[1]

Properties of Ultrasonic Waves:-

Ultrasonic waves are high frequency waves that have a heating effect. They also
have smaller wavelength than all the other waves and they form stationary wave
pattern when passing through liquids. The ultrasonic waves have constant
velocity in homogeneous medium. Many modes of vibration. High resolution,
used for flaw detection. Sonic beam and highly energetic.

1. The ultrasonic waves cannot travel through vacuum.

2. These waves travel with speed of sound in a given medium.
3. Their velocity remains constant in homogeneous media.
4. These waves can weld certain plastics, metals etc.
5. These can produce vibrations in low viscosity liquids.
6. The ultrasonic waves are reflected and refracted just like light waves.
7. The speed of ultrasonic waves/acoustic waves is more in more dense media.
 Methods of Ultrasound Production:

• Piezoelectric
• Magnetostriction

Piezoelectric:

• When a mechanical compression or tension is applied to some crystals like quartz,

a potential difference is developed across the crystal which is proportional to the
applied pressure. This phenomenon is known as Piezo-electric Effect.
• Also, if the potential difference is applied across the crystal, a mechanical
compression or tension is developed. This is called Inverse Piezo-electric Effect.

Fig .2 Construction diagram of Piezoelectric

Working: -

• A variable capacitor (C) and an inductor (L2) form a tank circuit.

• The frequency of the oscillations can be changed by changing the value of
capacitance.
• When the circuit is closed, the current flows through the circuit and charges the
capacitor.
• Then the capacitor starts discharging through the inductor, thus the electric
energy is stored in the form of electric and magnetic field of capacitor and
inductor respectively.
• Thus, electric oscillations are produced in the tank circuit.
• The frequency of this oscillating electricity is given by

• With the help of the other electronic components including a transistor, electrical
oscillations are produced continuously.
• This is fed to the secondary circuit connected to Quartz crystal (Q).
• The oscillating electric field is converted to mechanical vibration of crystal owing
to the piezoelectric effect.
• This vibration produces sound wave of the frequency equal to the frequency of
vibration, which is the frequency of electric oscillations.
• In this way ultrasonic sound waves can be produced.
• Natural frequency of crystal is given by

• t = Thickness of crystal slab

• Y = Young's Modulus
• ρ = Density
• k = 1, 2, 3, ... (Integer Multiple)
• When the frequency of electric oscillations is equal to that of natural frequency
of the crystal, resonance is achieved and the sound waves of maximum amplitude
are produced.

Advantages:

• It can produce 5MHz frequency.

• The output power is very high. It is not affected by temperature and
humidity.
• It is more efficient than Magnetostriction force.
 Disadvantages:

• The cost of quartz material is very high.

• The cutting and shaping of crystal are quite complex.

Magnetostriction:

Magnetostriction of steel, soft iron, and magnetite was investigated, using a

Weiss electromagnet to produce the field, whose strength was varied up to 10,000
or 20,000 gauss depending on the specimen and an apparatus of the lever type for
measuring dimension changes to within about 2(10)−7cm. Curves are given
showing the behaviour of a steel sphere, both before and after annealing. A sphere
of soft Norway iron gave larger effects than the steel sphere, effects which varied
with the orientation of the sphere in the field. A soft iron disk, part of a single
grain formed in a plate of iron with 3½ per cent Si, showed larger dimension
changes than have yet been found in iron. Along different diameters of the disk
quite different results were obtained; in some cases, there was a contraction, in
others, an expansion. Preliminary work with a magnetite sphere, 1.43 cm in
diameter, indicated a lack of cubic symmetry for both the transverse and
longitudinal effects.
 Fig .3 Construction diagram of Magentostriction[3]

Changing the direction of the field with respect to the crystal axes may change
the magnetostriction in a given direction from a contraction to an expansion; also,
transverse magnetostriction, with a fixed direction of magnetic field, is a
contraction for some directions in the crystal, an expansion for others. Theories
are briefly discussed. It is suggested that the ordinary magnetostriction curve of
iron is the resultant of two or more different types of curves which are
characteristic of the small individual crystals in different orientations, the
composite curve depending on the heterogeneous arrangement of the crystals.
The experiments suggest that the Villari reversal is also probably a consequence
of heterogeneous crystal arrangement in the iron. Ewing's latest model of the
magnetic atom seems to be capable of explaining the various magnetostrictive
effects.

Advantages:

• The construction cost is low.

• They are capable of producing large power with good efficiency.
• Magnetostriction material are easily available and is inexpensive.

Limitations:

• It can produce frequency up to 3 MHz only,

• The frequency of oscillator depends on the temperature.
• As the frequency is inversely proportional to the length of vibrating rod.

Applications of Ultrasonic Waves in Engineering and Medicine:

Application of ultrasonic waves in various fields e.g., engineering, medical,

metallurgical, physical, chemical, etc.

• Applications in Engineering:

Ultrasonic waves have a wide range of applications in various fields e.g.,

engineering, medical, metallurgical, physical, chemical, etc. Some of their uses
are discussed in below:

*Ultrasonic Drilling and Cutting-

 Fig.4 Ultrasonic Drilling and Cutting[4]

Ultrasonic are used for making holes in very hard materials such as glass,
diamond etc., When ultrasonic are passed through these materials it creates air
bubbles. This air bubbles collapses within short span of time, thereby a larger
amount of pressure and temperature which are used for cutting and drilling.

*Ultrasonic Cleaning-

Fig.5 Ultrasonic Cleaning [5]

Ultrasonic cleaning is an environmentally friendly alternative for the cleaning of
continuous materials, such as wire and cable, tape or tubes. The effect of the
cavitations generated by the ultrasonic power removes lubrication residues like
oil or grease, soaps, stearates or dust. In addition, the pollution particles are
dispersed into the cleaning liquid. By that, a new adhesion to the material to be
cleaned is avoided and the particles are flushed away.

*Ultrasonic Welding Applications-

Fig.6 Ultrasonic Welding[6]

Ultrasonic metal-welding is an advanced technical process for combining

nonferrous metals, stranded wire and many metal-alloys. It is a cold-phase
friction welding technique; there is no melting, no high-temperature build up.
The surfaces being joined are subjected to high- frequency mechanical
oscillations while being rubbed together under pressure. The molecules of the
surfaces begin to swirl and intermingle with one another, creating a firm and
lasting bond. Improvements in quality and efficiency, reduced energy
requirements and positive environmental factors are the decisive advantages of
this new technology.

*SONAR-

Sonar is a technique which stands for sound Navigation and Ranging . It uses
ultrasonic for the detection and identification of underwater objects. The method
consists of sending a powerful beam of ultrasonic in the suspected direction in
water.
 Fig.7 Sonar[7]

Application Of Sonar:

1. Sonar is used in the location of shipwrecks and submarines on the bottom of

the sea.

2.It is used for fish -finding application.

3.It is used for seismic survey.

Applications in Medicine:

Although ultrasound competes with other forms of medical imaging, such as X-

ray techniques and magnetic resonance imaging, it has certain desirable
features—for example, Doppler motion study—that the other techniques cannot
provide. In addition, among the various modern techniques for the imaging of
internal organs, ultrasonic devices are by far the least expensive. Ultrasound is
also used for treating joint pains and for treating certain types of tumours for
which it is desirable to produce localized heating. A very effective use of
ultrasound deriving from its nature as a mechanical vibration is the elimination
of kidney and bladder stones.

Ultrasonic rays are also used in

Diagnosis

Therapy and surgery

Relevant Books for this topic

https://thecrystalhealingshop.com/collections/free-downloads-and-ebooks
https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Structure-Determination-Werner-
Massa/dp/3540206442

https://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Structure-Determination-Werner-
Massa/dp/3642058418

Relevant Web links for this topic

https://www.sonotec.com/en/column/ultrasonic.html

https://www.ques10.com/p/10186/what-is-piezoelectric-effect-explain-the-
working-1/

https://www.brainkart.com/article/Magnetostriction-Method--Principle,-
Construction,-working,-Advantages-and-Limitations_6871/

https://web.iit.edu/sites/web/files/departments/academic-affairs/academic-
resource-center/pdfs/Crystal_Structures.pdf

http://www.vidyarthiplus.in/2011/11/engineering-physics-ultrasonic.html

https://www.mah.se/upload/_upload/Crystal%20structures.pdf

http://srjcstaff.santarosa.edu/~yataiiya/E45/CRYSTALS%20-%20Copy.pdf

https://www.iitk.ac.in/che/pdf/resources/XRD-reading-material.pdf

https://www.daenotes.com/electronics/industrial-electronics/ultrasonic-

https://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.1580055

https://byjus.com/physics/applications-ultrasound/

https://www.britannica.com/science/ultrasonics/Medical-applications

Relevant Videos for this topic

https://nptel.ac.in/courses/113/104/113104014/

https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/75283/3-091-fall-
2004/contents/video-lectures/lecture-18/index.htm

https://nptel.ac.in/courses/112/106/112106227/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S23_6r96P-w