This research seeks to develop an instrument to measure the speed of impulsively generated shear waves in liquids. The proposed device consists of concentric cylinders with a fluid-filled gap between them. The outer cylinder is rotated impulsively, and the transit time of the shear wave is detected by monitoring the motion of the inner cylinder. This instrument should be useful for probing the molecular structure of liquids. The work proposed here builds on a previously developed instrument, upgrading that instrument in many ways, such as improved bearings, etc. Upon completion of instrument development, it will be tested, as funding permits, on a number of fluids.
