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Modeling of functionally graded piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers
Wilfredo Montealegre Rubio1, Flávio Buiochi, Julio Cezar Adamowski
1Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Systems Engineering, Escola Politecnica da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes, 2231 - Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil. wilfredo.rubio@poli.usp.br
Functionally graded material (FGM) piezoelectric transducers offer improved performance without interfaces. Modeling shows FGM designs enhance pressure response, bonding, and bandwidth compared to traditional transducers.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Acoustics
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Functionally Graded Materials (FGM) enable continuous property variations in composites.
- FGMs in piezoelectric transducers can mitigate stress concentrations and enhance bonding.
- This offers potential for improved transducer performance and bandwidth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and model FGM piezoelectric transducers.
- To compare the performance of FGM transducers with non-FGM counterparts.
- To analyze the influence of material gradation on transducer characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Developed analytical and finite element (FE) models for FGM piezoelectric transducers.
- Utilized ANSYS for FE modeling and MATLAB for the analytical acoustic transmission-line model.
- Simulated transducers radiating plane pressure waves in a fluid medium, considering different material configurations.
Main Results:
- Obtained time and frequency domain pressure responses and electrical impedance.
- Investigated linear and exponential material gradation functions along the thickness.
- Demonstrated the impact of gradation on resonance frequencies and overall transducer performance.
Conclusions:
- FGM piezoelectric transducers present a viable approach for enhanced performance.
- Continuous material property grading offers significant advantages over traditional composite designs.
- Further research can explore optimized gradation profiles for specific applications.
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