Ultrasonic Velocity Testing

Ultrasonic velocity testing offers a nondestructive way to characterize geological core sample properties subjected to high temperatures and pressures in a triaxial cell. This delivers important data about specimen elastic properties, rock structure, deformational stress and other attributes. These tests involve propagating an ultrasonic compression wave and two orthogonal shear waves along the longitudinal axis of the sample, then measuring the velocity of the waves as they travel through the specimen to calculate dynamic elastic properties, including Young’s modulus, bulk modulus and Poisson’s ratio.

With more than 40 years of experience providing rock mechanics testing, MTS offers the expertise and technology users need to perform accurate ultrasonic velocity testing. Specifically, MTS provides a dedicated Ultrasonic Velocity Test Solution with state-of-the-art components that are meticulously engineered and tightly integrated to deliver dependable performance in triaxial test applications at temperatures up to 180°C and pressures up to 140 MPa (20,000 psi). Other capabilities for ultrasonic velocity testing include:

• Robust, reliable rock mechanics test systems
• Industry-leading triaxial cells
• Specially designed ultrasonic platens, transducers, cabling and feedthroughs
• Unique software for advanced data monitoring, acquisition and processing
• Ultrasonic and acoustic digital processing electronics