Nonlinear acoustics, a technique to determine microstructural changes in materials

A study aimed at correlating the mechanical properties of high strength alloys with the nonlinear acoustic properties of the materials is presented. A nonlinear acoustic technique is used to examine microstructural changes in precipitation hardened materials. Contact ultrasonic transducers have been used instead of the traditional capacitance microphone which facilitates absolute strain amplitude measurements and thus makes harmonic generation measurements more accessible to industry.