A method to determine acoustic properties of solids and its application to measuring oil film thickness in bearing shells of unknown composition

Acoustic impedance is an important property used to interpret acoustic reflection measurements in tests to determine oil film thickness, a critical parameter dictating efficiency and wear rates of lubricated components. A new method to measure acoustic impedance of solid media, based on the well-established spring model, is described. The advantage of this method over existing techniques is that it can be applied to thin, multi-layered materials where individual reflections cannot be distinguished, common in many tribological systems such as bearings, piston rings and piston liners. The method is demonstrated experimentally for a range of materials. Results compare well with values calculated independently from acoustic velocity and density. The method has been applied to a bearing test rig to determine acoustic impedance of a thin-walled bearing. This study demonstrates that the technique is capable of measurements in dynamic systems and where traditional methods of calculating acoustic impedance are not feasible.