Measurement of nonlinear viscoelastic properties of fluids using Dynamic Acoustoelastic Testing

A nonlinear ultrasound-based method called Dynamic Acoustoelastic Testing (DAET) is used to assess nonlinear viscoelastic properties of fluids. This method is based on the interaction between two elastic waves: a low-frequency (LF) sinusoidal wave (4 kHz) to successively compress and expand the liquid as a bulk stress, and ultrasound (US) pulses (1 MHz) to simultaneously probe the sample at different states of the quasi-hydrostatic pressure. The DAET method provides estimations of the elastic nonlinearities issued from the Time Of Flight Modulations (TOFM) of the US pulses. The TOFM is plotted as a function of the LF acoustic pressure, allowing an estimation of the nonlinear elastic parameter B/A. In this study, we first present the results obtained in Newtonian fluids such as water and silicone oils. Simple viscoelastic gels (Carbomers and Xanthan gums) have also been tested exhibiting the same behavior: TOFM linearly related to LF pressure amplitude corresponding to classical quadratic nonlinearity. Finally, preliminary DAET measurements have been performed in biphasic systems composed of hard glass beads in a gel-based matrix and in gelatin during a gelation process.