4.1 The velocity measurements described in this test method may be used to characterize material variations that affect mechanical or physical properties. This procedure is useful for measuring variations in microstructural features such as grain structure, pore fractions, and density variations in monolithic ceramics.

4.2 Velocity measurements described herein can assess subtle variations in porosity within a given material or component, as, for example, in ceramic superconductors and structural ceramic specimens (2,3).

4.3 In addition to ceramics and ceramic composites, the velocity measurements described herein may be applied to polycrystalline and single crystal metals, metal matrix composites, and polymer matrix composites.

4.4 An alternative technique for velocity measurement is given in Practice E494.