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Waves : Ultrasonic waves

Piezo Electric Generator or Oscillator

Principle : Inverse piezo electric effect

• If mechanical pressure is applied to one pair of opposite
faces of certain crystals like quartz, equal and opposite
electrical charges appear across its other faces.This is
called as piezo-electric effect.
• The converse of piezo electric effect is also true.
• If an electric field is applied to one pair of faces, the
corresponding changes in the dimensions of the other
pair of faces of the crystal are produced. This is known
as inverse piezo electric effect or electrostriction.
• Example: PZT, BaTiO3
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Waves : Ultrasonic waves Waves : Ultrasonic waves

Construction
• The quartz crystal is placed between two metal plates A
The circuit diagram is shown in Figure and B.
• The plates are connected to the primary (L3) of a
transformer which is inductively coupled to the electronics
oscillator.
• The electronic oscillator circuit is a base tuned oscillator
circuit.
• The coils L1 and L2 of oscillator circuit are taken from
the secondary of a transformer T.
• The collector coil L2 is inductively coupled to base
coil L1.
• The coil L1 and variable capacitor C1 form the tank
circuit of the oscillator.
Piezo electric oscillator
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Waves : Ultrasonic waves Waves : Ultrasonic waves

Working
• When H.T. battery is switched on, the oscillator produces high • The variable condenser C1 is adjusted such that the
frequency alternating voltages with a frequency.
1 frequency of the applied AC voltage is equal to the
f 
2 L1C1 natural frequency of the quartz crystal, and thus
• Due to the transformer action, an oscillatory e.m.f. is induced in the resonance takes place.
coil L3. This high frequency alternating voltages are fed on the plates
A and B.
• Inverse piezo-electric effect takes place and the crystal • The vibrating crystal produces longitudinal ultrasonic
contracts and expands alternatively.The crystal is set into
mechanical vibrations.
waves of large amplitude.
• The frequency of the vibration is given by
where P = 1,2,3,4 … etc. for fundamental,
first over tone, second over tone etc.,
P Y
n = 2l 
Y = Young’s modulus of the crystal and
ρ = density of the crystal.
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Waves : Ultrasonic waves Waves : Ultrasonic waves

Advantages Applications of Ultrasonic Waves in Engineering

• Ultrasonic frequencies as high as 5 x 108Hz or 500 MHz
(1)Detection of flaws in metals (Non
can be obtained with this arrangement.
Destructive Testing –NDT)
• The output of this oscillator is very high.
• It is not affected by temperature and humidity. Principle
• Ultrasonic waves are used to detect the presence
of flaws or defects in the form of cracks, blowholes
Disadvantages
porosity etc., in the internal structure of a material
• The cost of piezo electric quartz is very high
• By sending out ultrasonic beam and by measuring
the time interval of the reflected beam, flaws in the
• The cutting and shaping of quartz crystal are very
complex. metal block can be determined.
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Experimental setup Working
It consists of an ultrasonic frequency generator and a cathode • In flaws, there is a change of medium and this
ray oscilloscope (CRO),transmitting transducer(A), receiving
transducer(B) and an amplifier.
produces reflection of ultrasonic at the cavities or
cracks.
• The reflected beam (echoes) is recorded by using
cathode ray oscilloscope.
• The time interval between initial and flaw echoes
depends on the range of flaw.
• By examining echoes on CRO, flaws can be detected
and their sizes can be estimated.

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Waves : Ultrasonic waves

Features

• This method is used to detect flaws in all common

structural metals and other materials like rubber
tyres etc.

• The method is very cheap and of high speed of

operation.

• It is more accurate than radiography.

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