Ultrasonic Measurement of Acoustoelastic Coefficients of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)

Nowadays, thermoplastic polymers like Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) are used in various applications, ranging from transparent aerospace components to medical-hospital equipment. Acoustic waves are affected by the medium's characteristics, such as texture, tension, and temperature. The knowledge of PMMA's acoustoelastic effect using ultrasonic techniques enables the indirect inspection of the physical characteristics of this material. Research findings endorse that there is not sufficient data available in the literature to cover it to obtain a complete understanding of the elastic properties of PMMA. In this work, we evaluated the acoustoelastic parameters of PMMA subjected to a uniaxial stress field through longitudinal and ultrasonic shear waves. This work provides the base for a complete assessment of parameters involved in the acoustoelastic effect of PMMA.