A method for determining a median radius R.sub.0 of a collection of bubbles in a foamed medium, which liquid is suitable for being cured and to form, after curing, a solid construction material or a solid polymer foam, the method including conveying the foamed medium into a cavity, transmitting an ultrasound pulse into the cavity, detecting the pulse, measuring a component chosen from an amplitude of the detected pulse and a phase of the pulse, and subsequently determining the median radius Ro of the bubbles in the foamed medium in the cavity on the basis of the determined component.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems of evaluating cement integrity behind a coated casing string using acoustic signals. The methods include disposing an acoustic logging tool inside a coated casing string, wherein the coated casing string is disposed in a wellbore to form an annulus between the coated casing string and the wellbore, and is at least in part bonded to the wellbore by a cement. Further, the methods include transmitting an acoustic signal into at least part of the coated casing string to form a Lamb wave mode, measuring an attribute of a Lamb wave mode, and determining if the coated casing string is fully or partially bonded to the cement or is free pipe or is partially bonded to a formation based at least in part on the Lamb wave mode.

An ice detection sensor apparatus includes a strut body extending along a longitudinal axis. The strut body includes an axially extending wall extending around the longitudinal axis to surround an interior space, and an axial-facing end wall connected to an axial end of the axially extending wall. The axial-facing end wall partially bounds the interior space. A magneto strictive oscillator sensing element extends from the interior space, through the axial-facing end wall. The sensing element is engaged to the axial-facing end wall for oscillation along the longitudinal axis relative to the axial-facing end wall. A permanent magnet (PMG) element is integral with, e.g., monolithic with, the strut body.

A method includes filling a cavity of a form defined by one or more boundaries with an uncured concrete mixture such that the uncured concrete mixture contacts or envelops a piezoelectric sensor within the form, receiving one or more electrical signals from the piezoelectric sensor as the uncured concrete mixture cures within the form to define a concrete sample, determining an electrical signal-frequency spectrum of the electrical signal(s) received from the piezoelectric sensor, determining one or more resonant frequencies of the concrete sample based on the electrical signal-frequency spectrum, determining a Young's modulus of the concrete sample based on the one or more resonant frequencies thereof, and outputting the determined Young's modulus or information based on the determined Young's modulus.

An ultrasonic inspection device includes: a longitudinal ultrasonic sensor configured to emit and receive a longitudinal ultrasonic wave; and an ultrasonic transducer unit made of metal and having the shape of a polyhedron. The ultrasonic transducer unit includes: an output surface configured to be disposed facing an object to be inspected; an input surface on which the longitudinal ultrasonic sensor is disposed; and a conversion surface configured to, when the longitudinal ultrasonic wave input through the input surface is reflected by the conversion surface, convert the longitudinal ultrasonic wave into a transverse ultrasonic wave such that the transverse ultrasonic wave propagates toward the output surface, the conversion surface being tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to an in-plane direction of the output surface. Thermal conductivity of the ultrasonic transducer unit is lower than thermal conductivity of the object to be inspected.

A system features a combination of an acoustic sensor and a communication transmitter. The acoustic sensor is arranged on a rotating container or drum having a slurry contained therein, including concrete, and configured to provide an acoustic signal to sense an acoustic signal containing information about a characteristic of the slurry, and provide acoustic sensor signaling containing information about the acoustic signal sensed. The communication transmitter is arranged on the rotating container or drum, and configured to receive the acoustic signal, and provide the acoustic signal received from the rotating container or drum for further processing.

An ultrasonic inspection device includes: a longitudinal ultrasonic sensor configured to emit and receive a longitudinal ultrasonic wave; and an ultrasonic transducer unit made of metal and having the shape of a polyhedron. The ultrasonic transducer unit includes: an output surface configured to be disposed facing an object to be inspected; an input surface on which the longitudinal ultrasonic sensor is disposed; and a conversion surface configured to, when the longitudinal ultrasonic wave input through the input surface is reflected by the conversion surface, convert the longitudinal ultrasonic wave into a transverse ultrasonic wave such that the transverse ultrasonic wave propagates toward the output surface, the conversion surface being tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to an in-plane direction of the output surface. Thermal conductivity of the ultrasonic transducer unit is lower than thermal conductivity of the object to be inspected.