UT Pulse-Echo Calculation
Ultrasonic Pulse-Echo Calculator
Example of Pulse-Echo Calculation:
The pulse-echo method measures the distance to a reflector or material thickness by analyzing the time delay between a transmitted pulse and its received echo. The formula for distance is:
Distance (d) = (Pulse-Echo Time (t) × Velocity of Sound (c)) / 2
Scenario:
An ultrasonic pulse travels through aluminum, where the speed of sound is 6400 m/s. The reflector is 25 mm away. Calculate the time of flight (TOF) and the total round-trip time for the pulse.
Step 1: Calculate Time of Flight (TOF)
First, convert the distance to meters:
25 mm = 0.025 m
Use the formula:
TOF = Distance (d) / Velocity of Sound (c)
TOF = 0.025 m / 6400 m/s = 0.0000039 seconds (3.9 μs)
Step 2: Calculate Total Round-Trip Time
The round-trip time is twice the TOF:
Total Round-Trip Time = 2 × TOF = 2 × 3.9 μs = 7.8 μs
Conclusion:
For a reflector 25 mm away in aluminum, the ultrasonic pulse takes 3.9 microseconds to reach the reflector and 7.8 microseconds to complete the round trip.
Key Notes:
- Ensure unit consistency (e.g., convert mm to meters for calculations).
- The division by 2 in the distance formula accounts for the pulse traveling to the reflector and back.