High Resolution Ultrasonic Attenuation Measurement in Pulse-echo Setup

In the present work, a new technique for ultrasonic attenuation measurement in pulse echo setup is designed using off the shelf components. The technique is based on the comparison of echo amplitudes with a programmable reference voltage generated by the personal computer. The designed circuit can measure the echo amplitudes up to seven echoes with a resolution of 4mV, which is sufficient for estimation of ultrasonic attenuation. It does not require the fast analog to digital converters. A program has been developed in "C" to record echo amplitudes and display ultrasonic attenuation on screen. The instrument developed is a stand alone system and does not require any other instrument except PC. The developed technique has been tested for its functionality on some standard liquids.