Absorption and Velocity of Ultrasonic Waves of Finite Amplitude in Liquids

Abstract

This paper reports the results of measurements of the attenuation and velocity of ultrasonic waves in various liquid media as a function of the intensity level at the detector of the radiation. The attenuation in distilled water and dilute solutions of acetic acid and sodium acetate is found to increase almost linearly with the acoustic excess pressure amplitude in the range from 2 to 7 atmospheres, for frequencies of 4, 5, 7, and 9 megacycles/sec. The attenuation in glycerine shows a similar increase when correction is made for the unavoidable rise in temperature of the medium. The rate of increase is found to be practically independent of frequency in the range employed, thus disagreeing with the prediction of R. D. Fay's theory of the attenuation of high-amplitude plane waves. No change of velocity with source intensity has been observed.