Abstract
A modification of the composite oscillator method is described in which the specimens, which have sizes ranging down to 5 mm in length and ½ mm across, are cemented to nickel wire transducers. By exciting the nickel rod magnetostrictively, the resonant frequency of the composite rod can be measured and the elastic wave velocity in the specimen calculated. The behaviour of the composite oscillator when the areas of cross-section of the components are not matched is discussed. The selection of a transducer for a particular specimen with the object of reducing the errors due to the cement and to inaccurate frequency measurement is considered. Some results of measurements on mineral and keratin specimens are given.