Sensing Liquid Properties With Shear-mode Resonator Sensors

Abstract

Liquid properties are measured from the changes they induce in the resonant frequency and damping of thicknessshear mode quartz resonators. A smooth-surfaced resonator viscously entrains the contacting fluid and responds to the density-viscosity product. Separation of density and viscosity is accomplished using two devices: one with a smooth surface and one with a corrugated surface that traps fluid. By observing the difference in stored and dissipated energies in the contacting fluid, its non-Newtonian characteristics can also be determined.