Liquid viscosity measurement using a longitudinally vibrating PZT ceramic and electric impedance measurements

Osama N. Ashour; Zaffir A. Chaudhry; Craig A. Rogers

doi:10.1117/12.240901

30 May 1996 Liquid viscosity measurement using a longitudinally vibrating PZT ceramic and electric impedance measurements

Osama N. Ashour, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, Craig A. Rogers

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2718, Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Sensing, Processing, and Instrumentation; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.240901
Event: 1996 Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1996, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

A simple and very accurate method for measuring the viscosity of liquids is presented. A vibrating lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic polycrystalline resonator is totally immersed in a liquid and the oscillation behavior is studied both analytically and experimentally. The vibrating ceramic generates a shear wave traveling in the surrounding fluid normal to the surface of the resonator with heavy damping. The PZT is modeled as a vibrating thin plate. The resulting one-dimensional governing equation of motion, which includes the effect of damping, is solved with the appropriate damped boundary conditions using impedance methods. The resonance frequency of a PZT immersed in a fluid is shown to be a function of the PZT parameters and the product of the fluid density and viscosity. Fluid loading is shown to lower the resonance frequency of the ceramic and both diminish and broaden the impedance plot near resonance. Unlike previous methods utilizing crystal shear-mode resonators, this method is valid for both low and high viscosity values. The proposed method provides viscosity values within 10% accuracy compared to tabulated values. The current study also provides an equivalent circuit model for the PZT in fluid loading. Immersing the PZT in a liquid increases both the inductance and the resistance of the unperturbed (dry) ceramic. The calculated elements of the equivalent circuit compare well with the values obtained using a best-fit statistical model.

Citation Download Citation

Osama N. Ashour, Zaffir A. Chaudhry, and Craig A. Rogers "Liquid viscosity measurement using a longitudinally vibrating PZT ceramic and electric impedance measurements", Proc. SPIE 2718, Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Sensing, Processing, and Instrumentation, (30 May 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.240901

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available