Use of longitudinal ultrasonic velocity as a predictor of elastic moduli and density of sintered uranium dioxide.

Nondestructive characterization of sintered uranium dioxide using ultrasonics is addressed. The values of elastic moduli and ultrasonic velocity of uranium dioxide as a function of pore volume fraction are compared with the predicted values of elasticity and self-consistent scattering theories. Analysis of data shows that the longitudinal ultrasonic velocity may be used as a predictor of density and elastic moduli and that the relationship between the elastic moduli and longitudinal velocity is linear over a change of Young's modulus by 50%