Reflected and Transmitted Pressures

The relationships which determine the amount of reflected and transmitted acoustic pressures at
a boundary for normal incidence
Z2 Z1
Pr =
Z2 + Z1
2Z1
Pt =
Z2 + Z1
Where
Pr = amount of reflected acoustic pressure.
Pt = amount of transmitted pressure
Z1 = acoustic impedance of material from which the waves are incident
Z2 = acoustic impedance of material from in the waves are transmitted
Selection of probe
The frequency and dimensions of a transducer determine the shape of the beam (near field and
beam divergence). As we know that, It is possible to detect imperfections in the near field, but
their characterization is less accurate and less reproducible. It is always recommended to select a
probe to minimize the near field.
The selection shall assure that the characteristics of the beam are the optimum for the
examination by a compromise between the following:
1. The near field length which shall remain, whenever possible, smaller than the thickness
of the object under examination
As we know near field is directly proportional to frequency and square of the diameter, so
more the frequency and diameter more is the near field
2. The beam width, which shall be sufficiently small within the examination zone furthest
from the probe to maintain an adequate detection level;
Beam width can be varied only with size of the transducer selected, larger size transducer
generally yields larger beam width.
3. The beam divergence, which shall be sufficiently large to detect planar imperfections that
are unfavorably orientated. Beam divergence is inversely proportional to diameter and
 frequency of the transducer. so more the frequency and diameter of the transducer lesser
will be the beam divergence.
Apart from the above considerations the selection of frequency shall take into account the sound
attenuation in the material and the reflectivity of imperfections. The higher this frequency, the
greater the examination resolution, but the sound waves are more attenuated (or the spurious
signals due to the structure are greater). The choice of frequency thus represents a compromise
between these two factors.
Most examinations are performed at frequencies between 1 MHz and 10 MHz.

The following should be considered when setting controls for inspection:

The larger the section or testpiece, the greater the likelihood of encountering flaws of
a particular size
Flaws of a damaging size may be permitted if found to be in an area that will be
subsequently removed by machining or that is not critical
It is generally recognized that the size of the flaw whose echo exceeds the rejection
level usually is not the same as the diameter of the reference hole.
The material being inspected may conduct sound differently from the material of the
reference block. Normally, a reference block will be made from material of the same
general type as that being inspected
The depth of a flaw from the entry surface will influence the height of its echo that is
displayed on the oscilloscope screen.