Experimental hardware development for a pulsed ultrasonic data collection facility

Abstract

The work reported in this thesis used readily available components to implement a data acquisition system for a pulsed ultrasonic data collection facility. Use of hardware with controlling software is necessary to collect waveforms of acoustic potential at a given distance from the transmitting source. Precise movement and positioning of and acoustic receiver in the collection plane is accomplished by use of an xy coordinate motor-driven slide assembly. A signal generator and transient digitizer transmit and digitize the signal, respectively. These components are brought together synchronously using LabVIEW instrumentation software. This work provides an efficient means to collect waveform data which can be used to verify computer code written previously for the purpose of modeling pulsed ultrasonic acoustic diffraction patterns.