Method for measuring the propagation velocity of ultrasonic acoustic waves through rock fragments

Abstract

Method for measuring the propagation velocities of ultrasonic acoustic waves through rock fragments which includes the steps of (a) introducing the fragment in a coupling fluid between a pair of piezoelectric transducers capable of generating highly damped ultrasonic acoustic waves; (b) passing highly damped ultrasonic acoustic waves through the fragment, said waves being generated by a pulse generator with a pulse width varying from 0.1 .mu.s to 20 .mu.s; (c) visualizing the obtained electric signals by an oscilloscope with a resolution of at least 10.sup.-2 .mu.s; and (d) measuring the transit time of the waves themselves. The ultrasonic acoustic waves may be compressional or shear waves. In one embodiment the coupling fluid has a viscosity varying be 200 and 800 poises.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.