PROCEEDINGS
JOINT CONVENTION YOGYAKARTA 2019, HAGI – IAGI – IAFMI- IATMI (JCY 2019)
Tentrem Hotel, Yogyakarta, November 25th – 28th, 2019
Comparation of Measurements of Rock Elastic Properties using
Ultrasonic Transducer V103RM, Ultracon 170 and Sonic Viewer
Tedy Setiawan1, Fatkhan1, Ramadhani Yasyfi Cysela1
Teknik Geofisika, Institut Teknologi Bandung
1
Abstract
Analysis of rock elastic properties, anisotropic
parameters, and fractures are the key of a good
seismic data. The ratio of compressional to
shear wave velocity (Vp/Vs) for mixtures of
quartz, clays, and other rock-forming minerals
is significant in reflection seismology and
formation evaluation. By using ultrasonic wave
measurement, the values of Vp and Vs
obtained, and the density of rocks can be used
to calculate the other parameters, such as shear
wave velocity, Poisson’s Ratio (σ), Shear
Modulus (µ), Bulk Modulus (K), Young’s Modulus
(E), Mu-Rho (µρ), and Lambda-Rho (λρ). There
are several instruments used to figure out P-
wave and S-wave velocities, including
Ultrasonic Transducer V103RM, Ultracon 170
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tester, and Sonic
Viewer. In this paper, we will analyze the
advantages and disadvantages of using each
device for gaining P-wave and S-wave
velocities. The ultrasonic wave velocity was
measured on cylindrical samples of 100 mm in
length acrylic. For measurements, a specimen is
sandwiched between two transducers, high
voltage pulse is applied to one transducer for
the generation of ultrasonic wave and, then,
another transducer receives the wave
propagating through the specimen. The
ultrasonic transducer V103RM proved its
accuracy by getting the closest travel time value
(𝑡𝑝=36,8 𝜇𝑠) to the literature value (𝑡𝑝=36,9
±0,5 𝜇𝑠) as verified by having the lowest
percentage of error.
Introduction
Variations in the physical and chemical
constitution of rocks are found to produce
observable changes in their elastic properties.
When these elastic properties determined within
the earth are compared with the known
properties of rocks determined from laboratory
measurements, important information
concerning the nature of the material is at once
available [2]. Rock physics provides links
between the sediment's elastic properties and
its bulk properties and conditions including pore
pressure and pore fluid. Elastic properties are
estimated from laboratory experiments on core
samples and called dynamic elastic properties.
Three types of sonic velocity methods are
available: ultrasonic technique, low frequency
sonic wave technique and frequency resonant
technique. Among these methods, the
ultrasonic technique is more convenient to be
used in rock mechanics [4]. Laboratory sonic
velocity techniques, called ultrasonic test is
used due to their non-destructive nature, high
precision and low cost. Ultrasonic waves are
acoustic waves which have two types of
longitudinal wave (P-wave) and transverse
wave (S-wave) with frequency ranges from 20
kHz to 1GHz. Ultrasonic measurement is applied
to identify cracks in the rock matrix. Ultrasonic
velocity measuring transition time of a traveling
elastic pulse between two point in a core.
There are several devices that can be used for
ultrasonic measurement. The present paper
describes experimental set up to measure
ultrasonic velocities on solid media using three
different devices which is Ultrasonic Transducer
V103RM, Ultracon 170 Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity
Tester, and Sonic Viewer. The advantages and
disadvantages of each device will be obtained.
Data and Method
Ultrasonic techniques
Ultrasonic test is used as a method to determine
the velocity of propagation of P and S waves in
laboratory rock samples. Ultrasonic tomography
utilizes an ultrasonic wave as a source. In this
study it assumes that wave path is a straight
line. Furthermore, the average velocity of
ultrasonic wave propagation between
transmitter and receiver is expressed as object
projection conducted on many angles. To
reconstruct a tomographic image,
PROCEEDINGS
JOINT CONVENTION YOGYAKARTA 2019, HAGI – IAGI – IAFMI- IATMI (JCY 2019)
TBA Hotel, Yogyakarta, November 25th – 28th, 2019

measurements of travel time are made at

various angles from transmitter (T) to receiver
(R).

Ultrasonic Transducer V103RM & V153RM

The measurement system uses transducer
V103RM (P-wave) and V153RM (S-wave),
pulser receiver 5072PR, preamplifier 5676, and
digital oscilloscope NI-PCI 5911. Transducers
are used frequency of 1MHz that are set to have
different distances. Before measuring core
samples, it is necessary to calibrate the
transducers, i.e. by attaching the source and the (a)
receiver transducer directly (Figure 1 (a)). This
needs to be conducted to determine the
reference input waveform and delay time.
Calculating P and S-wave velocities manually
are obtained by measuring distance from
transmitter to receiver.

Sonic Viewer
The Sonic Viewer-SX is an instrument to figure
out P-wave and S-wave velocities by measuring
the travel time of ultrasonic wave through a
boring core or a rock specimen with high
accuracy, and further is capable of calculating (b)
such factors as dynamic Poisson’s ratio and
dynamic elastic coefficient.

For measurements, a specimen is sandwiched

between two transducers, high voltage pulse is
applied to one transducer for the generation of
ultrasonic wave and, then, another transducer
receives the wave propagating through the
specimen (Figure 1 (b)). Waveform data is
displayed on its color LCD, and propagation time
can be read out from the waveform with a high
degree of accuracy. ©

Ultracon 170 Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity
Tester
The Ultracon 170 Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity
Tester for concrete testing is a professional test
instrument that measures ultrasonic transit
time with high accuracy & repeatability. V This
device use selectable frequency which is 5
Hz/10 Hz/20 Hz and measure only P-wave.
Before measurement, we must calculate length
of specimen/core and input the number to
Ultracon 170 device. Core or specimen is
sandwiched between two transducer, and delay
time will be displayed on monitor (Figure 1 (c)).
From above, ultrasonic measurement using
ultrasonic transducer V103RM & V153RM (a),
sonic viewer (b) and ultracon 170 (c).
Figure 1: The measurement process of each
devices
Result and Discussion
As the first step, ultrasonic test were carried out
to correlate the velocity of P (𝑉𝑝 ) test using
three different devices. We used acrylic with
known 𝑡𝑝 which is 36,9 ±0,5 𝜇𝑠 and

2
 PROCEEDINGS
JOINT CONVENTION YOGYAKARTA 2019, HAGI – IAGI – IAFMI- IATMI (JCY 2019)
TBA Hotel, Yogyakarta, November 25th – 28th, 2019

𝑉𝑝 = 2710,03 𝑚/𝑠. The measurement have been this situation is continuously happened. P-wave
conducted with the results displayed on Table 1. velocity from sonic viewer’s measurement is
always lower than Ultrasonic Transducer
𝑡𝑝 𝑉𝑝 V103RM’s measurement. This also happened
Device when we measure S-wave velocity. We can
(𝜇𝑠) (m/s) conclude that sonic viewer usually has data
Ultrasonic Transducer 36,8 2719,39 results that smaller than the actual data.
V103RM (P-wave)
Sonic Viewer 36,35 2751,03 Conclusions
Ultracon 170 32,4 3086,42 The ratio of compressional to shear wave
Table 1. Ultrasonic test for acrylic material velocity (Vp/Vs) for mixtures of quartz, clays,
and other rock-forming minerals is significant in
From the following table we can see that reflection seismology and formation evaluation.
Ultrasonic Transducer V103RM (P-wave) have Ultrasonic velocity measuring transition time of
delay time (𝑡𝑝 ) that approaching literature data. a traveling elastic pulse between two point in a
Sonic viewer is in the middle, while Ultracon 170 core. Measurement using three different devices
has the biggest error. In Ultrasonic Transducer which is Ultrasonic Transducer V103RM,
V103RM (P-wave) and Sonic viewer Ultracon 170 Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tester,
measurement’s, picking first break manually is and Sonic Viewer has been done. The results
applied for calculating P-wave velocity, but in say that Ultrasonic Transducer V103RM (P-
Ultracon 170 measurement’s picking first break wave) have delay time (𝑡𝑝 ) that approaching
is used automatically by device and it may affect literature data. Sonic viewer is in the middle,
the results. while Ultracon 170 has the biggest error. We
also knew that sonic viewer usually has data
We use the following data as a reference for the results that smaller than the actual data. This
next step. Next measurement, P-wave and S- condition happened not only in p-wave velocity
wave velocity has been obtained using measurement but also in s-wave measurement.
Ultrasonic Transducer V103RM and Sonic Further study using different device and more
Viewer. The Ultracon 170 one only have P-wave sample needs to be done to enhance the quality
transducer so it can’t be use to measure of data.
S-wave. The ultrasonic wave velocity was
measured on cylindrical samples of phenolite
and silt. The results of measurement is References
displayed on Table 2.
Castagna, J.P.,Batzle M.L., and Eastwood R.L.,
𝑉𝑝 (m/s) 1985, Geophysics Vol 50, NO.4, 571-581
Ultrasonic Sonic Viewer Goranson, R. W., 1934, Geophysics-a note on
Material the elastic properties of rocks.
Transducer
Sari, V.M., 2018, PEDISGI 2018, Geophysical
V103RM
Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung
P-wave S-wave P-wave S-wave Soroush, H., and Qutob, H., 2011, The 2nd
Phenolite 2797 1375 2151 1228 South Asian Geoscience Conference and
Silt 4303 2463 4038 2408 Exhibition.
Table 2. P-wave and S-wave velocity
measurement in phenolite and silt.

Measurement results from Table 1 and Table 2

show similar result. From Table 1, we know
device that has smallest error is Ultrasonic
Transducer V103RM (P-wave). P-wave velocity
from Sonic Viewer is smaller than reference and
also smaller than Ultrasonic Transducer
V103RM’s measurement. If we see in Table 2