Research applications and opportunities in power ultrasonics

Abstract

The first applications in power ultrasonics were largely focused on ultrasonic cleaning baths, which rely on generating inertial cavitation, and the incorporation of ultrasonic excitation in manufacturing processes such as joining of plastics and metals. Since the early days of power ultrasonics there has been a rapid growth in the number of applications, and the diversified range of applications, from microwelding to ultrasonic osteotomy, has been made possible by a combination of advances in experimental techniques for characterizing low ultrasonic frequency vibrations and acoustics, and advances in computational modelling. This article highlights just some of the research in power ultrasonics that aims to exploit the benefits of low ultrasonic frequency high ultrasonic amplitude vibrations. This article reports current research and suggests future opportunities in three different application areas that have seen significant recent advances: joining and shaping of metals, surgical devices, and cavitation cells.