The theory of sonics is a branch of continuum mechanics which describes the transmission of mechanical energy through vibrations. The birth of the theory of sonics^[1] is the publication of the book A treatise on transmission of power by vibrations in 1918 by the Romanian scientist Gogu Constantinescu.

ONE of the fundamental problems of mechanical engineering is that of transmitting energy found in nature, after suitable transformation, to some point at which can be made available for performing useful work. The methods of transmitting power known and practised by engineers are broadly included in two classes: mechanical including hydraulic, pneumatic and wire rope methods; and electrical methods....According to the new system, energy is transmitted from one point to another, which may be at a considerable distance, by means of impressed variations of pressure or tension producing longitudinal vibrations in solid, liquid or gaseous columns. The energy is transmitted by periodic changes of pressure and volume in the longitudinal direction and may be described as wave transmission of power, or mechanical wave transmission. – Gogu Constantinescu^[2][3]

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2010)

Later on the theory was expanded in electro-sonic, hydro-sonic, sonostereo-sonic and thermo-sonic. The theory was the first chapter of compressible flow applications and has stated for the first time the mathematical theory of compressible fluid, and was considered a branch of continuum mechanics. The laws discovered by Constantinescu, used in sonicity are the same with the laws used in electricity.

The book A treatise on transmission of power by vibrations has the following chapters:

1. Introductory
2. Elementary physical principles
3. Definitions
4. Effects of capacity, inertia, friction, and leakage on alternating currents
5. Waves in long pipes
6. Alternating in long pipes allowing for Friction
7. Theory of displacements – motors
8. Theory of resonators
9. High-frequency currents
10. Charged lines
11. Transformers

George Constantinescu defined his work as follow.

• The Constantinesco synchronization gear, used on military aircraft in order to allow them to target opponents without damaging their own propellers.
• Automatic gear
• Sonic Drilling, was one of the first applications developed by Constantinescu. A sonic drill head works by sending high frequency resonant vibrations down the drill string to the drill bit, while the operator controls these frequencies to suit the specific conditions of the soil/rock geology.
• Torque Converter.^[4] A mechanical application of sonic theory on the transmission of power by vibrations. Power is transmitted from the engine to the output shaft through a system of oscillating levers and inertias.
• Sonic Engine

If v is the velocity of which waves travel along the pipe, and n the number of the revolutions of the crank a, then the wavelength λ is:

${\displaystyle \lambda ={\frac {v}{n}}\,}$
Assuming that the pipe is finite and closed at the point r situated at a distance which is multiple of λ, and considering that the piston is smaller than wavelength, at r the wave compression is stopped and reflected, the reflected wave traveling back along the pipe.

The alternating pressures are very similar to alternating currents in electricity. In a pipe where the currents are flowing, we will have:

${\displaystyle p=H\sin {(at+\Phi )}+p_{m}}$; where H is the maximum alternating pressure measured in kilograms per square centimeter. ${\displaystyle \Phi =}$ the angle of phase; ${\displaystyle p_{m}}$ representing the mean pressure in the pipe.

Considering the above formulas:

the minimum pressure is ${\displaystyle P_{min}=P_{m}-H}$ and maximum pressure is ${\displaystyle P_{max}=P_{m}+H}$

If p₁ is the pressure at an arbitrary point and p₂ pressure in another arbitrary point:

The difference ${\displaystyle h=p_{1}-p_{2}=H\sin {(at+\Phi )}}$ is defined as instantaneous hydromotive force between point p₁ and p₂, H representing the amplitude.

The effective hydromotive force will be: ${\displaystyle H_{eff}={\frac {H}{\sqrt {2}}}}$

In alternating current flowing through a pipe, there is friction at the surface of the pipe and also in the liquid itself. Therefore, the relation between the hydromotive force and current can be written as:

${\displaystyle H=Ri}$; where R = coefficient of friction in ${\displaystyle {\frac {kg.sec.}{cm.^{5}}}}$

Using experiments R may be calculated from formula:

${\displaystyle R=\epsilon {\frac {\gamma lv_{eff}}{2g\omega d}}}$;

Where:

• ${\displaystyle \gamma }$ is the density of the liquid in kg per cm.³
• l is the length of the pipe in cm.
• g is the gravitational acceleration in cm. per sec.²
• ${\displaystyle \omega }$ is the section of the pipe in square centimeters.
• v_eff is the effective velocity
• d is the internal diameter of the pipe in centimeters.
• ${\displaystyle \epsilon =0.02+{\frac {0.18}{\sqrt {v_{eff}d}}}}$ for water (an approximation from experimental data).
• h is the instantaneous hydromotive force

If we introduce ${\displaystyle \epsilon }$ in the formula, we get:

${\displaystyle R={\frac {\gamma l}{g\omega }}{\big (}0.01{\frac {v}{d}}+{\frac {0.09}{d}}{\sqrt {\frac {v_{eff}}{d}}}{\big )}}$ which is equivalent to:

${\displaystyle 100k={\frac {v_{eff}}{d}}+{\frac {9}{d}}{\sqrt {\frac {v_{eff}}{d}}}={\frac {v_{eff}}{d}}{\big (}1+{\frac {9}{v_{eff}}}{\sqrt {\frac {v_{eff}}{d}}}{\big )}}$; introducing k in the formula results in ${\displaystyle R=k{\frac {\gamma l}{g\omega }}}$

For pipes with a greater diameter, a greater velocity can be achieved for same value of k. The loss of power due to friction is calculated by:

${\displaystyle W={\frac {1}{T}}\int _{0}^{T}hi\,dt}$, putting h = Ri results in:

${\displaystyle W={\frac {1}{T}}\int _{0}^{T}Ri^{2}\,dt={\frac {R}{T}}\int _{0}^{T}i^{2}\,dt={\frac {RI^{2}}{2}}}$

Therefore: ${\displaystyle W={\frac {RI^{2}}{2}}={\frac {HI}{2}}=H_{eff}\times I_{eff}}$

Definition: Hydraulic condensers are appliances for making alterations in value of fluid currents, pressures or phases of alternating fluid currents. The apparatus usually consists of a mobile solid body, which divides the liquid column, and is fixed elastically in a middle position such that it follows the movements of the liquid column.

The principal function of hydraulic condensers is to counteract inertia effects due to moving masses.

More information for spring ...

Hydraulic Condenser Drawing

Theory

The principal function of hydraulic condensers is to counteract inertial effects due to moving masses. The capacity C of a condenser consisting of a piston of section ω on which the liquid pressure is acting, held in a mean position by means of springs, is given by the equation: ΔV = ωΔf = CΔp where: ΔV = the variation of volume for the given liquid; Δf = the variation of the longitudinal position of the piston, and Δp = the variation of the pressure in the liquid. If the piston is held by a spring at any given moment: f = AF where A = a constant depending on the spring and F = the force acting on the spring. In the condenser we will have: ΔF = ωΔp and Δf = AωΔp Considering the above equations: C = Aω2 and ${\displaystyle F={\frac {f}{A}}={\frac {f\omega }{C}}}$ For a spring wire of circular section: ${\displaystyle B=Ff}$ Where B is the volume of spring in cubic centimeters and σ is the allowable stress of metal in kilograms per square centimeter. G is the coefficient of transverse elasticity of the metal. Therefore: B = mFf m being a constant depending on σ and G. If d is the diameter of the spring wire and the D the mean diameter of the spring. Then: ${\displaystyle F=0.4{\frac {d^{3}}{D}}\sigma }$ so that: ${\displaystyle d={\sqrt[{3}]{\frac {FD}{0.4\sigma }}}}$ if we consider ::${\displaystyle n={\sqrt[{3}]{\frac {1}{0.4\sigma }}}}$ then: ${\displaystyle d=n{\sqrt[{3}]{FD}}}$ The above equations are used in order to calculate the springs required for a condenser of a given capacity required to work at a given maximum stress.

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