Impulse Excitation Technique

The Impulse Excitation Technique characterizes the elastic modulus and damping of materials based on the acoustic response emitted by a sample after receive a light impulse excitation. This acoustic response contains the specimen natural frequencies of vibration, which are proportional to the elastic modulus, and presents amplitude decay proportional to the damping. For regular geometries, such as bars, cylinders, discs and rings, there are analytical equations relating the elastic modulus and the sample's natural frequencies of vibration, dimensions and mass. When natural frequencies of vibration, dimensions and mass are known, the calculation of elastic modulus is immediate.

Impulse Excitation Technique: Step by Step
Impulse Excitation Technique basics.

For the elastic modulus characterization using the Impulse Excitation Technique, the sample is positioned on a proper sample support and excited by a manual light tap or using an electromagnetic actuator. An acoustic sensor detects the acoustic response, which is processed by the Sonelastic® software that calculates the elastic modulus and damping from the natural frequencies of vibration (resonance frequencies). Damping is calculated by the logarithmic decrement method from the signal attenuation rate.


Discover the Sonelastic® Systems:
Sonelastic® System for small specimens
Sonelastic® System for medium specimens
Sonelastic® System for large specimens
Sonelastic® Custom System and quotation