Abstract: A waveguide is provided, particularly for use in acoustic emission applications involving a hostile environment, comprised of a member selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide and beryllium oxide. The waveguide is solid in form, and varies in length depending upon the specific application or use of the waveguide and the frequency of the signal. Size varies inversely to frequency levels. The cross sectional dimension will vary depending upon application, and will generally conform to the size of the crystal sensor element being utilized in a particular application.

Abstract: An improved acoustic emission transducer is provided for sensing surface flat frequency response displacement waveforms which transducer is arranged in a packaged form to provide a device of rugged construction which is substantially immune to rough handling, which is smaller in size, and which is easy to use. The arrangement includes a sensor element mounted with an inertia mass comprised of a material substantially matching the impedence of the sensing element, and of substantial size in order to clamp one phase of the sensor element from high frequency motions. The device is mounted in a housing under a continuously applied positive pressure or force in order to maintain the sensor element in the clamped position regardless of orientation of the transducer, which has the effect of reducing undershoot, among other things, in the output response signal produced by the transducer.