The mechanical pre-stressing in ultrasonic piezotransducers

Composed piezotransducers submitted to mechanical pre-stressing present shifts on resonance and anti-resonance frequencies. Changes on characteristic parameters of the ceramic and in the coupling between the parts of the transducer can be the causes for this behavior. In applications where the level of pre-stressing is low (up to 50 MPa) the parameters of the ceramic are not altered, therefore, the shifting on frequencies are attributed to coupling between parts. This paper describes a mathematical model to explain this effect based on difference of effective cross-section between transducers parts under pre-stressing. The results show a proportional relation between pre-stressing and effective coupling of the parts.     

基于2-2型压电复合材料的新型宽频带径向振动超声换能器

本文提出了一种基于2-2型压电复合材料的新型宽频带径向振动超声换能器,它主要由内金属圆环和外压电陶瓷复合材料圆环组成.首先利用Newnham串并联理论和均匀场理论推导了2-2型压电复合材料的等效参数;其次利用解析法得到了金属圆环和径向极化压电复合陶瓷圆环径向振动的机电等效电路;最后得到了换能器的六端机电等效电路,从而得到了换能器的频率方程.接着分析了换能器共振频率和反共振频率以及有效机电耦合系数与几何尺寸、两相体积占比的关系,采用仿真软件对新型换能器的径向振动进行了数值模拟.结果表明,利用解析法得到的共振频率和反共振频率与数值模拟结果吻合较好.此外,对换能器在水下的辐射声场进行了仿真研究,结果表明新型复合材料径向换能器相比传统纯陶瓷径向换能器,发射电压响应幅值更大,工作带宽提高接近一倍,声匹配更佳.     

复合圆环弯曲振动四极子模态分析

针对压电圆环弯曲振动机电转换性能较差的问题,提出了一种复合圆环弯曲振动换能器,它由一个径向极化的压电陶瓷内圆环和一个金属外圆环复合而成。基于能量原理推导得到了复合圆环弯曲振动的谐振频率和有效机电耦合系数,探讨了弯曲振动四极子模态特性与其结构尺寸间的关系。当压电圆环尺寸不变时,随外侧金属圆环壁厚增加,复合圆环弯曲振动四极子模态谐振频率上升,有效机电耦合系数迅速上升到极大值后缓慢下降。最后,设计制作了圆环换能器并对其谐振频率和有效机电耦合系数进行了实验测试,测试结果与解析结果和数值模拟结果吻合得较好。      

1-3 connectivity piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composite transducers made with viscous polymer processing for high frequency ultrasound

Potential applications of high frequency ultrasound exist because of the high spatial resolution consequent upon short wavelength. The frequencies of interest, typically from 25 MHz upwards, are easily supported by modern instrumentation but the capabilities of ultrasonic transducers have not kept pace and the transducers in high frequency commercial ultrasonic systems are still made with single-phase crystal, ceramic or piezopolymer materials. Despite potential performance advantages, the 1-3 connectivity piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composite materials now widely used at lower ultrasonic frequencies have not been adopted because of manufacturing difficulties. These difficulties are centred on fabrication of the 1-3 piezoceramic bristle-block comprising tall, thin pillars upstanding from a supporting stock. Fabrication techniques which have been explored already include injection moulding, mechanical dicing, and laser machining. Here, we describe an alternative technique based on viscous polymer processing (VPP) to produce net shape ceramic bristle-blocks. VPP produces green-state ceramic with rheological properties suitable for embossing. We outline how this can be created then report on our work to fabricate PZT bristle-blocks with lateral pillar dimensions of the order of 50 microm and height-to-width ratios of the order of 10. These have been backfilled with low pre-cure viscosity polymer and made into complete 1-3 piezocomposite transducer elements. We outline the performance of the transducers in terms of electrical impedance and pulse-echo behaviour and show that it corresponds well with computer modelling. We conclude that VPP is a promising technique to allow the established advantages of piezocomposite material to be exploited at higher frequencies than have been possible so far.     

Wideband focused transducer array for optoacoustic tomography

The calculation procedure of the parameters of a multielement transducer array for the optoacoustic tomography of biological objects with high spatial resolution values is proposed. A multielement transducer with given spatial resolution values in three dimensions has been developed based on the proposed procedure for the early detection of breast cancer. The transducer array consists of a set of 8 linear PVDF piezoelectric films located on a plane and a focusing cylindrical acoustic lens. A map of the transducer’s focal area and point spread function have been measured using the constructed transducer array. Spatial resolutions of the transducer array obtained experimentally are in agreement with their calculated values.     

Study on the radial composite piezoelectric ceramic transducer in radial vibration

A new type of radial composite piezoelectric transducer in radial vibration is developed and analyzed. The radial composite transducer consists of a piezoelectric ceramic thin ring polarized in the thickness direction and a metal thin circular ring. They are connected together and excited to vibrate in the radial direction. The radial vibrations of a piezoelectric ceramic thin ring and a metal thin circular ring are analyzed, respectively. Their radial electro-mechanical equivalent circuits are obtained. Based on the electro-mechanical equivalent circuits and using the boundary conditions between the piezoelectric ceramic thin ring and the metal thin circular ring in the radial direction, the electro-mechanical equivalent circuit of the radial composite piezoelectric transducer is derived out and the resonance frequency equation is obtained. The relationship between the resonance frequency and the geometrical dimensions of the transducer is analyzed. Some radial composite piezoelectric transducers are designed and manufactured. The resonance frequencies and the anti-resonance frequencies, the electro-mechanical equivalent circuit parameters are measured. The effective electro-mechanical coupling coefficient and the mechanical quality factor are calculated. It is illustrated that the measured radial resonance frequencies are in good agreement with the theoretical results from the resonance frequency equation.     

不同织构形状及分布下滑动摩擦副的多目标驱动优化及敏感性分析

为改善滑动摩擦副润滑性能,引入了表面微织构技术。首先采用计算流体力学(Computational Fluid Dynamics,CFD)方法建立了四种不同织构形状下滑动摩擦副的数值计算模型,并对其流动状态进行研究,其次以承载力最高和摩擦力最低为目标,基于非支配排序遗传算法(NSGA-Ⅱ)对织构结构及分布进行多目标驱动优化,最后采用局部敏感性分析方法研究了目标参数对各设计变量的敏感度。结果表明:优化后滑动摩擦副润滑性能明显提高,最优分布参数与织构形状无关,而最优织构深度随着织构形状不同有所变化,且优化前后矩形织构型滑动摩擦副润滑性能均最优;环向距离对承载力影响程度最大,织构深度次之,而摩擦力对各设计变量均不敏感。     

多匹配层空气耦合压电超声换能器*

该文针对超声无损检测与成像功能空气耦合换能器开展了分析计算和研制。为解决压电材料与空气间巨大的阻抗失配问题,进行了多匹配层设计,并基于有限元技术仿真设计了1-3压电复合材料参数。借助复数压电方程,导出考虑损耗的多匹配层压电复合材料换能器厚度振动等效电路,获得其等效导纳,以此计算电导谱,同时基于有限元技术数值计算相应电导谱,二者有较好的一致性。在此基础上分别设计制作复合压电材料,多匹配层材料以及由此构成的空气耦合超声换能器。换能器的实测电导谱与数值仿真结果一致。进一步的换能器回波信号测试及其谱分析结果表明,所研制的160 k Hz中心频率空气耦合换能器样品有较好灵敏度和带宽。这些结果说明,该文研制的空气耦合超声换能器的初样是成功的。     

Theoretical analysis and experimental validation of radial cascaded composite ultrasonic transducer

A radial cascaded composite ultrasonic transducer is analyzed.The transducer consists of three short metal tubes and two radially polarized piezoelectric ceramic short tubes arranged alternately along the radial direction.The short metal tubes and the piezoelectric ceramic short tubes are connected in parallel electrically and in series mechanically,which can multiply the input sound power and sound intensity.Based on the theory of plane stress,the electro-mechanical equivalent circuit of radial vibration of the transducer is derived firstly.The resonance/anti-resonance frequency equation and the expression of the effective electromechanical coupling coefficient are obtained.Excellent electromechanical characteristics are determined by changing the radial geometric dimensions.Two prototypes of the transducers are designed and manufactured to support the analytical theory.It is concluded that the theoretical resonance/anti-resonance frequencies are consistent with the numerical and experimental results.When R_2 is at certain values,both the anti-resonance frequency and effective electromechanical coupling coefficient corresponding to the second mode have maximal values.The radial cascaded composite ultrasonic transducer is expected to be used in the fields of ultrasonic water treatment and underwater acoustics.     

铌酸钾钠基无铅压电陶瓷纵振换能器*

高性能环境友好型无铅压电陶瓷及其应用是当前压电材料研究的热点之一,为了探究其在水声换能器领域的应用潜力,该文对铌酸钾钠基无铅压电陶瓷和锆钛酸铅压电陶瓷纵振式换能器进行了对比研究。依据仿真结果优化结构尺寸,制作了两种换能器样机并测试了其在空气中和水中的电声性能。测试结果表明,铌酸钾钠基无铅压电陶瓷换能器的谐振频率为35kHz,最大发送电压响应为 151dB,声源级可达 190dB,在 26kHz~67kHz 的频率范围内发送电压响应的起伏不超过±4.5dB,谐振频率处-3dB 的指向性开角约为 76°。该无铅压电陶瓷换能器具有和锆钛酸铅压电陶瓷换能器相当的发射性能,有望推动无铅压电材料在水声换能器领域的应用进程。     

Modeling and optimization on Nd:YAG laser turned micro-grooving of cylindrical ceramic material

Nd:YAG laser turning is a new technique for manufacturing micro-grooves on cylindrical surface of ceramic materials needed for the present day precision industries. The importance of laser turning has directed the researchers to search how accurately micro-grooves can be obtained in cylindrical parts. In this paper, laser turning process parameters have been determined for producing square micro-grooves on cylindrical surface. The experiments have been performed based on the statistical five level central composite design techniques. The effects of laser turning process parameters i.e. lamp current, pulse frequency, pulse width, cutting speed (revolution per minute, rpm) and assist gas pressure on the quality of the laser turned micro-grooves have been studied. A predictive model for laser turning process parameters is created using a feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) technique utilized the experimental observation data based on response surface methodology (RSM). The optimization problem has been constructed based on RSM and solved using multi-objective genetic algorithm (GA). The neural network coupled with genetic algorithm can be effectively utilized to find the optimum parameter value for a specific laser micro-turning condition in ceramic materials. The optimal process parameter settings are found as lamp current of 19 A, pulse frequency of 3.2 kHz, pulse width of 6% duty cycle, cutting speed as 22 rpm and assist air pressure of 0.13 N/mm² for achieving the predicted minimum deviation of upper width of ?0.0101 mm, lower width 0.0098 mm and depth ?0.0069 mm of laser turned micro-grooves.     

电子助进热丝化学汽相沉积金刚石薄膜

以CH₄和H₂为源反应气体，利用电子助进热丝化学汽相沉积（CVD）技术，在Si（100）晶面衬底上成功地得到了织构生长的金刚石薄膜．用扫描电子显微镜、Raman光谱、X射线衍射等多种技术对薄膜的形貌、成分、晶态等特性进行了分析，得到了在热丝CVD实验条件下织构生长金刚石薄膜的最佳工艺条件． 关键词：     

Ceramic materials as supports for low-temperature fuel cell catalysts

The performance and durability of low-temperature fuel cells seriously depend on catalyst support materials. Catalysts supported on high surface area carbons are widely used in low temperature fuel cells. However, the corrosion of carbonaceous catalyst-support materials such as carbon black has been recognized as one of the causes of performance degradation of low-temperature fuel cells, in particular under repeated start-stop cycles or high-potential conditions. To improve the stability of the carbon support, materials with a higher graphitic character such as carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers have been tested in fuel cell conditions. These nanostructured carbons show a several-fold lower intrinsic corrosion rate, however, do not prevent carbon oxidation, but rather simply decrease the rate. Due their high stability in fuel cell environment, ceramic materials (oxides and carbides) have been investigated as carbon-substitute supports for fuel cell catalysts. Moreover, the higher specific electrocatalytic activity of some ceramic supported metals than unsupported and carbon supported ones, suggests the possibility of a synergistic effect by supporting metal catalyst on ceramic supports. This paper presents an overview of ceramic materials tested as a support for fuel cell catalysts, with particular attention addressed to the electrochemical activity and stability of the supported catalysts.     

双激励全波长压电陶瓷超声换能器工作特性分析

对由两个半波长夹心式压电陶瓷换能器级联而成的双激励全波长压电陶瓷超声换能器进行了研究,给出了这种换能器优值的相关参量表达式,通过数值计算分析了该换能器的结构和材料参数对其特性的影响。研究结果表明,当两组压电陶瓷堆分别位于各自所在半波长换能器的位移节点,或者在压电陶瓷片数量确定情况下两组压电陶瓷堆的片数相同时,换能器均能得到最大的优值;在相当大的范围内增加压电陶瓷片的数量,换能器的优值稍有降低,但力因子迅速增大;金属块材料对换能器的优值影响甚微。可见双激励全波长换能器能在不明显降低换能器综合性能的情况下有效增加压电陶瓷的体积,因而可大幅提高换能器的功率容量和负载能力,更适用于大功率重负载的场合。      

Operating characteristics analysis of a dual-excited full-wavelength piezoceramic ultrasonic transducer

A dual-excited full-wavelength piezoceramic ultrasonic transducer as a cascade of two half-wavelength sandwich piezoceramic transducers is studied.The relevant parameters' expressions of the figure of merit N for the transducer are derived,and the effects of the structure and material parameters of the transducer on its characteristics are further analyzed by numerical calculation.The results show that when the two piezoceramic stacks are respectively located at the displacement nodes of their own half-wavelength transducers,or the two piezoceramic stacks have the same number of pieces in the case of a certain number of piezoceramic pieces,the figure of merit of the transducer can reach a maximum.With increasing of the number of piezoceramic pieces in a fairly large range,the figure of merit of the transducer slightly decreases,but the force factor of the transducer increases rapidly.The metal materials of the transducer have little effect on its figure of merit.Thus it can be seen that the dual-excited full-wavelength transducer can effectively increase the volumes of the piezoceramic stacks in the case of that the transducer's comprehensive performance has only a little bit of degradation,so it's power capacity and load capability can be dramatically improved,which means the transducer is more suitable for high power and heavy load applications.     

PSPICE controlled-source models of analogous circuit for Langevin type piezoelectric transducer

The design and construction of wide-band and high efficiency acoustical projector has long been considered an art beyond the capabilities of many smaller groups. Langevin type piezoelectric transducers have been the most candidate of sonar array system applied in underwater communication. The transducers are fabricated, by bolting head mass and tail mass on both ends of stacked piezoelectric ceramic, to satisfy the multiple, conflicting design for high power transmitting capability. The aim of this research is to study the characteristics of Langevin type piezoelectric transducer that depend on different metal loading. First, the Mason equivalent circuit is used to model the segmented piezoelectric ceramic, then, the impedance network of tail and head masses is deduced by the Newton's theory. To obtain the optimal solution to a specific design formulation, PSPICE controlled-source programming techniques can be applied. A valid example of the application of PSPICE models for Langevin type transducer analysis is presented and the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental measurements.     

Potentiality of SBN textured ceramics for pyroelectric applications

Textured Sr_xBa_1−xNb₂O₆ (SBN) ferroelectric ceramics with x = 0.53 and 0.63 were fabricated by hot forging process. The objective was to obtain, in the ceramic form, the strong anisotropy of the electric properties that these materials possess in the single crystal form. Properties such as electric permittivity, pyroelectric coefficient and dielectric loss showed an anisotropy between the perpendicular and parallel direction with respect to the pressure axis (applied pressure during the forging of the ceramics). A high pyroelectric coefficient, comparable with these published for SBN single crystal with the same composition, was obtained for the SBN53/47 ceramic, when measured in the perpendicular direction to the pressing axis. From the calculus of the pyroelectric figures of merit, it was possible to conclude that the textured SBN53/47 ceramic has a high potential to be used as pyroelectric elements. This ceramic, cut in the perpendicular direction to the pressing axis, possess high potential as fast pulse detector but the same ceramic, cut in the parallel direction to the pressing axis, has better properties to be used as large area and point detectors.     

New insights on contact angle/roughness dependence on high surface energy materials

The relationship between wettability and roughness has been studied on micro-roughened titanium surface after different cleaning procedures. Whereas most studies addressing (super)-hydrophobic behaviors have so far dealt with the wetting of low surface energy and textured substrates in air environment, we here report on a totally novel system and configuration involving the wetting of highly hydrophilic, textured metallic materials in liquid alkane medium, the so-called two liquid phase method. Roughness characterization showed that substrates were isotropic (2D), at a lengthscale much smaller than the size of the drop, with a heterogeneous (vertical) distribution of peaks and valleys. Depending on whether the alkane that initially penetrates and resides in the pores is displaced or not by the water drop (as for air pockets in air environment), we show that different wetting regimes may appear, depending on the cleaning procedure. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic study dealing with the interplay between surface roughness, the wetting behavior and in particular the (super)-hydrophilicity of high surface energy substrates, in non water miscible liquid environments. Whenever competitive processes of liquid/liquid displacement are involved at such high surface energy and textured substrates, such as titanium implant in bone tissue, these results may contribute understanding and predicting their wetting behavior.     

Electromechanical properties of a textured ceramic material in the (1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>)PMN-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>PT system: Simulation based on the effective-medium method

A complete set of dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic parameters for the textured ceramic material 0.67PMN-0.33PT is calculated by the self-consistency method with due regard for the anisotropy and piezoelectric activity of the medium. It is shown that the best piezoelectric properties corresponding to those of a single crystal are observed for the ceramic material with a texture in which all crystallites are oriented parallel to the [001] direction of the parent perovskite cubic cell. The simplest models of the polarization of an untextured ceramic material with a random initial orientation of crystallites are considered. The results obtained are compared with experimental data.