Ultrasonic interferometry: study of particle sedimentation in liquid

An ultrasonic interferometry method was designed to study sedimentation of particles in liquid. The method, based on A mode echography, measures the amplitude of ultrasonic waves reflected (echo E1) by a fixed interface I1 called "solid plate-sediment" interface formed when particles are sedimenting on a solid plate. The amplitude of the echo depends both on mechanical properties of the three media (solid plate, sediment and suspension) on the thickness of the sediment and on the presence of a second mobile interface I2 called "sediment-suspension" interface. In the first phase of sedimentation when the second interface is very close to the first, two reflected waves interfere. Then, in the second phase of sedimentation when the sediment is thick enough, the amplitude of the echo E1 depends only on the sediment and solid plate properties. The first phase will give information on the sedimentation rate of particles (SR). We have compared SR of particles determined by this method with SR measured in a cylindrical tube of the same geometry as the ultrasonic measurement cell and with theoretical values of the sedimentation rate given by theoretical models.