Acoustic measurements of stress fields and microstructure

A very precise system for measuring two-dimensional velocity fields in solid samples has been used for nondestructive measurements of both externally applied and residual inhomogeneous stresses in solids,J integrals, stress intensity factors of cracks, and hardness of quenched steel. The longitudinal velocity measurement is based on precise determination of the propagation transit time through the stressed solid specimen using a small diameter, water-coupled acoutic transducer, which is scanned mechanically over the sample. Changes in velocity are then related to changes of stress in the sample by the theory of acoustoelasticity. Similar measurements show a high degree of correlation between longitudinal velocity changes and changes in microstructure in steel samples. Applications to problems of solid mechanics and material science illustrate the utility of this nondestructive measuring technique.