Systems and methods of determining settlement characteristics of a drilling mud are disclosed. Conditions under which heavier elements of the drilling mud settle under the influence of gravity can be determined. Samples of drilling mud can be placed in testing cells, and ultrasonic test pulses can be transmitted through the samples. Responses to the test pulses can be detected and compared to other responses detected at different vertical positions within the testing cell. Settlement can be detected when the responses from different vertical positions are generally dissimilar. An environmental temperature of the testing cell can be changed over a testing time interval, and a settlement temperature can be determined by detecting a divergence in the responses from different vertical positions.

An apparatus for monitoring a mechanical system comprising a moving surface arranged to undertake periodic motion, the periodic motion having a time period. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to: control a first transducer to emit acoustic waves onto the moving surface during first and second time periods of the periodic motion; receive signals generated by the first transducer or a second transducer, wherein the received signals represent one or both of i) reflections of the acoustic waves from the moving surface and ii) acoustic waves having travelled through the mechanical system; process the received signals to obtain at least one first measurement indicative of a signal received during the first time period, and to obtain at least one second measurement indicative of a signal received during the second time period; compare the at least one first measurement with the at least one second measurement to determine a change of a property of the mechanical system.

A detection system contains a sensing device including a vibration unit for applying vibration to the inspection target, the vibration unit attached to the inspection target, a driving circuit for supplying an electric signal to the vibration unit for driving the vibration unit and a sensor for detecting vibration of the inspection target caused by the vibration applied from the vibration unit; and a detection processing device for receiving vibration information related to the vibration of the inspection target detected by the sensor from the sensing device and detecting the state change of the inspection target based on the vibration information. The vibration unit includes a coil, a spring, and a magnet.

Systems and methods of determining settlement characteristics of a drilling mud are disclosed. Conditions under which heavier elements of the drilling mud settle under the influence of gravity can be determined. Samples of drilling mud can be placed in testing cells, and ultrasonic test pulses can be transmitted through the samples. Responses to the test pulses can be detected and compared to other responses detected at different vertical positions within the testing cell. Settlement can be detected when the responses from different vertical positions are generally dissimilar. An environmental temperature of the testing cell can be changed over a testing time interval, and a settlement temperature can be determined by detecting a divergence in the responses from different vertical positions.

A device for estimating a mechanical property of a sample is disclosed herein. The device may include a chamber configured to hold the sample; a transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of waveforms, including at least one forcing waveform; and a transducer assembly operatively connected to the transmitter and configured to transform the transmit waveforms into ultrasound waveforms. The transducer assembly can also transmit and receive ultrasound waveforms into and out of the chamber, as well as transform at least two received ultrasound waveforms into received electrical waveforms. The device also includes a data processor that can receive the received electrical waveforms; estimate a difference in the received electrical waveforms that results at least partially from movement of the sample; and estimate a mechanical property of the sample by comparing at least one feature of the estimated difference to at least one predicted feature, wherein the at least one predicted feature is based on a model of an effect of the chamber wall. Finally, the device can also include a controller configured to control the timing of the ultrasound transmitter and data processor.

Systems and methods for monitoring a cheesemaking process, and for identifying certain stages of the process, are disclosed. The system includes a sonic sensor, along with a processor that will receive, from the sonic sensor, a signal that is indicative of a speed of sound in a material that is being processed in the cheesemaking process. The processor will use the speed of sound to identify a cut point in the cheesemaking process. The processor will generate a signal when the cut point is reached. Optionally, before this happens the processor also may use the speed of sound to identify a flocculation point in the cheesemaking process.

Systems and methods for implementing frequency domain techniques to determine acoustic changes in a battery via a piezoelectric element. In one aspect, a one-port piezoelectric network is formed by acoustically coupling a piezoelectric element to a battery. Impedance spectra of the one-port piezoelectric network are measured and correlated with the SoC and SoH of the battery. In another aspect, a two-port piezoelectric network is formed by acoustically coupling two piezoelectric elements to a battery. Ratio of voltages at the two piezoelectric elements of the two-port piezoelectric network are measured at different frequencies to generate voltage ratio spectra that are correlated with the SoC and SoH of the battery. Peaks in the impedance and voltage ratio spectra represent resonant modes of the battery that shift in frequency and/or amplitude based on the SoC and/or SoH of the battery. Reversible shifts correspond to the SoC and irreversible shifts to the SoH.