Speed of Sound in Solids

The situation with solids is considerably more complicated, with different speeds in different directions, in different kinds of geometries, and differences between transverse and longitudinal waves. Nevertheless, the speed of sound in solids is larger than in liquids and definitely larger than in gases.

Young's Modulus for a representative value for the bulk modulus for steel is 160 N / .

Table 3.3: Solids speed of sound, after Aldred, John, Manual of Sound Recording, London:Fountain Press, 1972

material reference Value [m/sec] Diamond   12000 Pyrex glass   5640 Steel longitudinal wave 5790 Steel transverse shear 3100 Steel longitudinal wave (extensional wave) 5000 Iron   5130 Aluminum   5100 Brass   4700 Copper   3560 Gold   3240 Lucite   2680 Lead   1322 Rubber   1600

Speed of sound in solid of steel, using a general tabulated value for the bulk modulus, gives a sound speed for structural steel of

(3.38)

Compared to one tabulated value the example values for stainless steel lays between the speed for longitudinal and transverse waves.