ABSTRACT

The effect of exposure of 7050 aluminum alloy to high temperatures has been studied using ultrasonic techniques. Contact, immersion, and laser ultrasonic techniques were used. The relationships of parameters of ultrasonic propagation with static material properties and material microstructure were evaluated. Pattern recognition techniques were used in conjunction with immersion ultrasonic measurements to distiguish between different heat treatments. It was shown that attenuation measurements at high frequencies (> 20 MHz) can provide an indication of material microstructure and thus mechanical properties of 7050 aluminum.