Design of Planar Array Transducers Based on Connected 1-3 Piezoelectric Composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Acoustics
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Traditional transducer arrays face limitations in transmission performance and preparation.
• Connected 1-3 piezoelectric composites offer potential for enhanced transducer array design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate two novel planar array transducers using connected 1-3 piezoelectric composites.
• To improve transmission performance, acoustic radiation intensity, and beam focusing characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Finite element simulation and experimental testing of two-phase and three-phase 1-3 composite array transducers.
• Fabrication of array transducer prototypes using composite materials with a short fabrication cycle.

Main Results:

• The two-phase 1-3 array achieved a maximum transmission voltage response of 179 dB (200-400 kHz) and a 22% increase in acoustic radiation intensity.
• The three-phase 1-3 transducer exhibited no sidelobes in single-element mode with a -3 dB beam width of 91°, and the whole array had a 3.5° beam width.
• The two-phase 1-3 transducer showed a 40.6% improvement in acoustic radiation breadth with a 54° beam width.

Conclusions:

• Both designed 1-3 piezoelectric composite array transducers demonstrate advantages over traditional splicing arrays for short-range applications.
• The three-phase 1-3 type is suitable for short-range target detection due to its concentrated acoustic energy and narrow beam width.
• Selection between the two designs depends on specific application requirements for voltage response and beam width.