Self-normalized photoacoustic technique for measurement of thermal diffusivity for metals

• Published in: Measurement science & technology Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 837 - 840
• Main Author: Balderas-López, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.06.2003; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Acoustic instruments, equipment, and techniques; Acoustical measurements and instrumentation; Acoustics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Physics; Thermal instruments, apparatus and techniques; Heat source; Thermal diffusivity; Experimental device; Metal; Measurement method; Experimental study; Optoacoustic effect; Thermal conductivity measurement
• ISSN: 0957-0233; 1361-6501
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-0233/14/6/318

The analytical solution for the 1-dimensional heat diffusion problem involving a harmonic heat source in a single layer was applied to provide a self-normalized photoacoustic cell methodology for the measurement of thermal diffusivity in metals. The analytical procedure involves the photoacoustic phase lag between the rear and front configurations. It also relies on the experimental localization of the value of the modulation frequency where cos(*D*Q) takes its first zero. Some computer simulations are provided to show the feasibility of the presented methodology. It was experimentally tested by measuring the thermal diffusivity of 4 metal samples.