Reflection and Refraction of Ultrasound at Interface :

In some ways, the behavior of ultrasound at an interface of two

mediums is similar to that of light. Snell's law is applicable.
When ultrasound strikes an interface of two different mediums,
depending on the ratio of the specific acoustic impedances, some
of the energy will be transmitted through the interface and the
remaining energy will be reflected back with an angle equal to the
angle of incidence. This property of ultrasound is utilized for
detecting reflectors or defects in materials.
% of energy reflection [ for 00 angle of incidence ] at an interface is,

]
Z 1 and Z 2 are the acoustic impedances of the two mediums.
Acoustic impedance of a material is the opposition to displacement
of its particles by sound energy. Acoustic impedance for,
longitudinal wave = material density X long wave velocity.
During ultrasonic testing of steel using oil as couplant, only 10%
energy enters steel and on its return journey again only 10% is
transmitted to the probe. Hence, only 1% of the generated energy is
available for amplification and display on the CRT.
When the incidence of a longitudinal wave is perpendicular to the
interface, the transmitted wave mode does not change.
However, If the longitudinal wave hits the interface at an angle,
then mode conversion takes place and both the longitudinal and
the shear wave modes will be produced in the second medium.
The refracted wave is predominantly longitudinal. The refracted
angle of the longitudinal wave is always more than the refracted
shear wave because of higher velocity. With increase in incident
angle, the refracted angle of the waves also increases.
When the first medium is Perspex and the second medium is
steel, at 27.60 angle of incidence, the refracted angle of the
longitudinal wave becomes 900 [ along the interface ] and only
shear wave will be present inside steel at 330. This is the first
Critical angle for Perspex to Steel transmission.
With further increase in incident angle, at 57.20, the angle of
refraction of the shear wave also becomes 900 and the shear
waves converts to surface waves which propagates along the
interface, [ provided a gas or only a very thin layer of Couplant is
present above the second medium ] otherwise shear waves will be
reflected back into the first medium [ total reflection ]. This angle
when the shear wave is refracted at 900 is known as the second
Critical angle of the mediums. The value of these critical angles
are different for different combination of mediums.
If the first medium is a liquid, then there would be no reflected
shear wave in the liquid.
In common shear wave probes, which are designed for testing
steel and eliminates the refracted longitudinal wave in steel, the
incident angles usable are between 27.50 and 570 for refracted
shear wave angles between 33.30 and below 900 in steel.
The incident, reflected and refracted angles are related as,

Sin  1 is incident angle, C 1 velocity in first medium, Sin  2 is

angle of reflection / refraction. C 2 velocity in second medium.

Calculate the angle of refraction of longitudinal and shear waves

in steel when a longitudinal wave hits the interface of acrylic
and steel at an angle of 200 ;
Long wave velocity in acrylic = 2730 mtrs / sec
Long wave velocity in steel = 5900 mtrs / sec
Shear wave velocity in steel = 3230 mtrs / sec
Sin 200 = .3420
refracted Longitudinal, = Inv Sin ( V2 / V1 X Sin 20 )
= Inv Sin ( 5900 / 2730 X .3420 )
= Inv Sin .7391 or 47.650
refracted Shear, = Inv Sin ( 3230 / 2730 X .3420 )
= Inv Sin .4046 or 23.860
Sound reflection at water / steel interface,
Z1 steel = 4.5, Z2 water = .15 in gms / cm2 / sec.
% of reflection ;
[(4.5 - .15) / ( 4.5 + .15)]2 X 100 = 87.5
i.e. only 12.5 % ultrasound energy will enter
steel. At water / aluminium interface, 30 % of
incident energy will enter aluminium.
at metal / gas interface, reflection is ~ 100%.

K. Chatterjee, 75643 Center for NDT P 00 Rv 03 Self study material.