Multi-oscillator viscoelastic sensing

Abstract

The embodiment involves the use of a vibration transducer having a plurality of oscillators, including a first oscillator (220) and a second oscillator (210), wherein the first and second oscillators are coupled in a viscoelastic fluid (240) such that the excitation (vibration) of the first oscillator excites (vibrates) the second oscillator. Since the frequency response of the double oscillator combination is affected by the fluid properties, by measuring one or more of the following properties of the viscoelastic fluid: i) density, ii) viscosity (e.g., kinematic viscosity μ'), and iii) modulus of elasticity (e.g., storage modulus G'), one or more of the following properties of the viscoelastic fluid can be determined by measuring one or more of the i) resonant frequency, ii) vibration amplitude, and iii) loss coefficient (or Q value) of the combination of vibrations of the first and second oscillators in the viscoelastic fluid.

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