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

Abstract

To improve the transmission performance and preparation of a transducer array, two planar array transducers based on connected 1–3 piezoelectric composites as a matrix were designed. Each transducer contained 25 array elements with a gap of 1 mm between them. The length, width and height of each array element were 1 mm, 26 mm and 5 mm, respectively. Two kinds of array transducers were tested through finite element simulation and experiments. The array transducer prototype was fabricated based on two kinds of composite materials, and the fabrication cycle was short. Our results show that the maximum transmission voltage response of the two-phase 1–3 full array driver is up to 179 dB at 200–400 kHz and the acoustic radiation intensity can be increased by up to 22% compared with the traditional splicing transducer array. It is suitable for short-range target positioning and measurement. Moreover, in the single element mode, the beam of the three-phase 1–3 transducer has no sidelobe and a single element −3 dB beam width of up to 91°. Furthermore, the beam width of the two-phase 1–3 type is 54°, and the acoustic radiation breadth is improved by 40.6%. The three-phase 1–3 type array transducer has the characteristics of concentrated acoustic transmission energy of the whole array, and its −3 dB beam width is 3.5°. The beam width decreased by 12.5%, indicating that the three-phase 1–3 type transducer is suitable for short-range target detection and perception. The two array transducers have their own advantages in transmitting the voltage response and beam width, which must be selected on the basis of the requirements of practical applications.

The Versatility of Piezoelectric Composites

“…The lighter density of piezocomposites is also useful for unmanned underwater vehicles, as they reduce weight, improve travel and energy efficiency, and provide superior detection compared with bulky monolithic ceramics. The possibility of high transmission voltages using piezocomposites also provides benefits over conventional sliced arrays comprised of numerous elements (125). Complex designs, such as piezocomposite rings and hemispheres, further improve the possible bandwidth (through multimode coupling) and beam width (126).…”

Development of a Dual-Layer Structure for Cymbal Transducer Arrays to Achieve a Wider Bandwidth

“…Underwater wireless sensor network systems are essential for modern underwater communication and detection [1]. Broadband arrays are in high demand for under-water communication applications owing to their high-speed data transmission and detection capabilities [2][3][4]. This study presents the development and fabrication of a cymbal array focusing on broadband acoustic characteristics.…”