Experimental and finite element modelling studies on single-layer and multi-layer 1-3 piezocomposite transducers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Acoustics
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• 1-3 piezocomposite transducers are crucial for various acoustic applications.
• Understanding their performance requires accurate modeling and experimental validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acoustic performance of 1-3 piezocomposite transducers using finite element modeling (FEM) and experimental methods.
• To evaluate the influence of ceramic volume fraction and the number of layers on transducer characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Finite element modeling (FEM) using ATILA code for infinite plates and finite-size transducers.
• Experimental fabrication and characterization of multi-layer transducer stacks.
• Evaluation of electrical impedance, transmitting voltage response (TVR), and receiving sensitivity (RS).

Main Results:

• FEM results for infinite plates showed good agreement with analytical models and experiments.
• Transducer characteristics were evaluated as functions of frequency, ceramic volume fractions, and layer number.
• Transmitting voltage response (TVR) increased with ceramic volume fraction, while receiving sensitivity (RS) decreased.

Conclusions:

• The developed FEM approach accurately predicts the performance of 1-3 piezocomposite transducers.
• Model predictions align well with experimental data, particularly for transducers with fewer layers.
• The study provides insights into optimizing transducer design for specific acoustic applications.