In-wall multi-bounce material property detection and acoustic signal amplification

A method for multi-bounce material property detection, the method comprising:

• positioning a first acoustic transducer on an exterior sidewall of a pipe carrying a quantity of fluid therein;
• transmitting an acoustic signal with the first acoustic transducer into the sidewall of the pipe from an exterior surface thereof;
• reflecting at least a portion of the acoustic signal off an interior surface of the sidewall of the pipe without entering an interior space of the pipe;
• positioning a second acoustic transducer on the exterior sidewall of the pipe;
• and
• receiving the reflected acoustic signal at the second acoustic transducer, wherein reflected acoustic signal provides an indication of a material property of the pipe or a material within the pipe.

An apparatus for in-wall, multi-bounce acoustic signal amplification, the apparatus comprising:

• a container containing a quantity of material;
• first and second acoustic transducers positioned on a sidewall of the container, wherein the first acoustic transducer is positioned at a different location along the sidewall than the second acoustic transducer;
• a first acoustic signal transmitted into the sidewall of the container from the first acoustic transducer, wherein the first acoustic signal reflects between an interior surface of the sidewall and an exterior surface of the sidewall without entering an interior space of the container;
• and
• a second acoustic signal transmitted into the sidewall of the container from the second acoustic transducer, wherein the second acoustic signal is phase synchronized with the first acoustic signal, and wherein the second acoustic signal amplifies the first acoustic signal.