Ultrasonic attenuation and velocity in AS/3501-6 graphite fiber composite

The ultrasonic group velocity and attenuation were measured as a function of frequency for longitudinal and shear waves in the Hercules epoxy matrix (3501-6) and in the principal directions of the unidirectional Hercules graphite fiber epoxy composite (AS/3501-6). Tests were conducted in the frequency ranges 0.25-14 MHz and 0.5-3 MHz for longitudinal and shear wave modes, respectively. While the attenuation increased with frequency for all wave modes, the group velocity was independent of frequency for all wave modes. In studying the effects of transducer-specimen interface couplant and pressure, it was found that for each transducer, there exists a frequency-dependent 'saturation pressure' corresponding to the maximum output amplitude of the signal.