Abstract: A method of non-destructive evaluation of mechanical properties of a material using ultrasonic waves in a monostatic configuration is disclosed. The method comprises remotely scanning a sample of the material without directly contacting the sample, measuring an acoustic impedance of the scanned sample, and calculating mechanical properties of the material using the acoustic impedance.

Abstract: Tunable polymer-based sonic structures (“TuPSS”) are made up of sonic structures and polymers. The TuPSS has three general requirements: a) The sonic structure is composed of one or materials engineered to behave as a lens, filter, cloak, or dampener; b) Stimulus sensitive polymer is incorporated into the sonic structure; and c) The actuation of the polymer tunes the acoustic behavior of the structure in a predictable manner. The tunable polymer-based sonic structures utilize stimuli-driven physical properties of the polymers in these acoustic structures to produce a stimulus driven, or tunable, sonic structure or device. The sonic structures actively modulate mechanical vibrations that propagate through the structures, but are passive in that they do not produce mechanical vibrations. The stimuli for the structures include electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, chemical, thermal, and shaking/orientation.

Abstract: An acoustic material can be electromagnetically tuned to produce alterations in its acoustical properties without physical contact. The acoustic material should contain a periodic structure and a medium that has acousto-elastical properties that can be altered through the application of electromagnetic radiation. Changes in volumetric properties such as density result in changes to the velocity at which sound passes through the material. The acoustic material can be a phononic crystal that undergoes a change in its acoustic bandgap after being subjected to electromagnetic radiation. This electromagnetic tuning ability results in the ability to change the acoustic properties of various phononic devices without physical contact.

Abstract: Tunable polymer-based sonic structures (“TuPSS”) are made up of sonic structures and polymers. The TuPSS has three general requirements: a) The sonic structure is composed of one or materials engineered to behave as a lens, filter, cloak, or dampener; b) Stimulus sensitive polymer is incorporated into the sonic structure; and c) The actuation of the polymer tunes the acoustic behavior of the structure in a predictable manner. The tunable polymer-based sonic structures utilize stimuli-driven physical properties of the polymers in these acoustic structures to produce a stimulus driven, or tunable, sonic structure or device. The sonic structures actively modulate mechanical vibrations that propagate through the structures, but are passive in that they do not produce mechanical vibrations. The stimuli for the structures include electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, chemical, thermal, and shaking/orientation.

Abstract: An acoustic material can be electromagnetically tuned to produce alterations in its acoustical properties without physical contact. The acoustic material should contain a periodic structure and a medium that has acousto-elastical properties that can be altered through the application of electromagnetic radiation. Changes in volumetric properties such as density result in changes to the velocity at which sound passes through the material. The acoustic material can be a phononic crystal that undergoes a change in its acoustic bandgap after being subjected to electromagnetic radiation. This electromagnetic tuning ability results in the ability to change the acoustic properties of various phononic devices without physical contact.