Directing acoustic energy by flasher-based origami inspired arrays

Acoustic arrays with fixed spatial positions of transducers are used for wave guiding capabilities in the far field. Recent developments in the field of reconfigurable structures reveal that origami inspired foldable arrays may enhance the near and far field wave guiding functionality by virtue of physical shape change. This research explores reconfigurable acoustic arrays based on the deployable flasher tessellation frame using acoustic transducers at mountain crease nodes. Leveraging an experimentally validated model of the flasher acoustic array, this research reveals that arrays with transducers distributed about a spiral arm exhibit higher-order interference that results in broadside directive beam patterns at lower frequencies than radial arm distributions. The class of flasher arrays also exhibits a switching behavior from broadside directive to omnidirectional by virtue of distinct repositioning of the acoustic transducers in the folding process. The discoveries from this research motivate the use of flasher arrays for potential implementation in underwater applications.