Active fiber composites for the generation of Lamb waves

Active fiber composites (AFC) are thin and conformable transducer elements with orthotropic material properties, since they are made of one layer of piezoelectric ceramic fibers. They are suitable for applications in structural health monitoring systems (SHM) with acoustic non-destructive testing methods (NDT). In the presented work the transfer behavior of an AFC as an emitter of transient elastic waves in plate-like structures is investigated. The wave field emitted by an AFC surface bonded on an isotropic plate was simulated with the finite-difference method. The model includes the piezoelectric element and the plate and allows the simulation of the elastic wave propagation. For comparison with the model experiments using a laser interferometer for non-contact measurements of particle velocities at different points around the AFC on the surface of the plate were performed. Transfer functions defined as the ratio of the electric voltage excitation signal and the resulting surface velocity at a specific point are separately determined for the two fundamental Lamb wave modes. In order to take the orthotropic behavior of the AFC into account the transfer functions are determined for several points around the AFC. Results show that the AFC is capable to excite the fundamental symmetric and antisymmetric Lamb wave mode. The antisymmetric mode is mainly radiated in the direction of the piezoelectric fibers, while the symmetric mode is spread over a larger angle. The amplitudes of the emitted waves depend on the frequency of the excitation as well as on the geometric dimensions of the transducer.     

Photothermoacoustic oscillations in a solid-piezoelectric layered structure

Photothermoacoustic oscillations in a thin plane-layered structure consisting of an isotropic solid and a piezoelectric crystal of class 6mm (or piezoelectric ceramics) are studied theoretically and experimentally. Expressions for the potential difference across an arbitrary layer of the piezoelectric transducer are derived. For the case of a two-layer transducer, the amplitude-frequency and phase-frequency dependences of the signal are analyzed. It is shown that, from these experimental dependences, one can determine certain elastic and thermal parameters of a solid. An experiment is performed with samples of Cu, Zn, and TsTS-19 piezoceramics in the frequency range within 9–1000 Hz. The experimental data are used to determine the values of the reduced Young’s modulus and the thermal diffusivity of the materials under study.     

Coupled dynamics of a squeeze-film levitated mass and a vibrating piezoelectric disc: numerical analysis and experimental study

This work deals with the dynamics of a vibrating piezoelectric disc, which creates, under specific vibrating conditions, an air squeeze film that is able to levitate a freely suspended object.In such problems, the coupling effects between the various components affect the overall dynamical behaviour of the combined system. For complex systems, which combine elastic and electro-static effects together with compressible fluid effects, the coupled equations are often dealt with separately to avoid modelling and computational complexity. In this paper, the importance of handling such systems in a coupled manner is advocated by means of numerical and experimental examples. A coupled model is derived in this work making use of a concise numerical solver to allow for this investigation under several conditions. The piezoelectric part of the structure is modelled by finite elements while the squeeze film phenomenon is represented by means of finite-difference equations, to model a variant of the Reynolds equation. The numerical model was verified during each step in the development of the numerical algorithm and indeed showed good agreement with existing publications, but once the components were combined, it was found that several phenomena were misrepresented in the past due to the neglect of the coupling effects. Several physical insights are brought from the simulation and investigation of the numerical results. In the last part, the importance of coupled analysis is emphasized by introducing an experimental investigation of the dynamical behaviour while conducting a comparison with numerical simulation results. From this comparison, the limitations of state-of-the-art modelling procedures are clarified.     

采用Helmholtz共鸣器与悬臂梁压电换能器的声能采集器研究

针对环境中广泛存在的声能,提出了一种采用Helmholtz共鸣器和悬臂梁压电换能器的声能采集器。Helmholtz共鸣器对入射声压进行放大,放大后的声压引起共鸣器弹性薄壁振动,薄壁的振动传递到压电换能器产生电能输出。建立了带弹性壁的立方形共鸣器的等效集中参数理论模型,并与压电换能器的机电特性结合,分析了声能采集器的声-机-电转换原理,研究了声压、声波频率和负载阻抗对输出功率的影响,研究结果为此类声能采集器的优化设计及工程应用提供了一种可行的方法。实验中,声源通过声波导管输出声能,当共鸣器管口处的声压级为94 dB时,系统实测最大输出功率达240μW。该采集器不仅可作为声能自供能采集器,还可在较远距离为低能耗电子装置进行有源声供能。      

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.     

Receiving sensitivity and transmitting voltage response of a fluid loaded spherical piezoelectric transducer with an elastic coating

A method is presented to determine the response of a spherical acoustic transducer that consists of a fluid-filled piezoelectric sphere with an elastic coating embedded in infinite fluid to electrical and plane-wave acoustic excitations. The exact spherically symmetric, linear, differential, governing equations are used for the interior and exterior fluids, and elastic and piezoelectric materials. Under acoustic excitation and open circuit boundary condition, the equation governing the piezoelectric sphere is homogeneous and the solution is expressed in terms of Bessel functions. Under electrical excitation, the equation governing the piezoelectric sphere is inhomogeneous and the complementary solution is expressed in terms of Bessel functions and the particular integral is expressed in terms of a power series. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the effect of dimensions of the piezoelectric sphere, fluid loading, elastic coating and internal material losses on the open-circuit receiving sensitivity and transmitting voltage response of the transducer.     

压电陶瓷复合换能器固有频率的有限差分法*

为丰富换能器固有频率的研究理论,以及提供一种新的计算方法供工程人员选择,提出了计算其固有频率的有限差分法。以由径向极化的压电陶瓷圆管与金属预应力管沿径向复合而成的二元压电陶瓷复合换能器为例,建立并推导了其向振动的数学模型及其有限差分形式,给出了换能器径向振动的特征方程。利用MTALAB对计算实例的径向振动的固有频率进行编程计算,理论计算结果与已有实验结果符合很好,验证了有限差分法计算压电陶瓷复合换能器固有频率的可行性及准确性。通过仿真计算,给出了换能器径向振动固有频率与其结构尺寸的影响关系：换能器径向振动的固有频率随压电陶瓷圆管内径的增大而降低,随换能器壁厚比的增大而降低。该文所建立的换能器径向振动固有频率的有限差分法同样适用于结构形式相近的换能器及其他元器件。     

Beam profile measurements and simulations for ultrasonic transducers operating in air

This paper outlines a method that has been implemented to predict and measure the acoustic radiation generated by ultrasonic transducers operating into air in continuous wave mode. Commencing with both arbitrary surface displacement data and radiating aperture, the transmitted pressure beam profile is obtained and includes simulation of propagation channel attenuation and where necessary, the directional response of any ultrasonic receiver. The surface displacement data may be derived directly, from laser measurement of the vibrating surface, or indirectly, from finite element modeling of the transducer configuration. To validate the approach and to provide experimental measurement of transducer beam profiles, a vibration-free, draft-proof scanning system that has been installed within an environmentally controlled laboratory is described. A comparison of experimental and simulated results for piezoelectric composite, piezoelectric polymer, and electrostatic transducers is then presented to demonstrate some quite different airborne ultrasonic beam-profile characteristics. Good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained. The results are compared with those expected from a classical aperture diffraction approach and the reasons for any significant differences are explained.     

Finite element modeling of heating phenomena of cracks excited by high-intensity ultrasonic pulses

A three-dimensional thermo-mechanical coupled finite element model is built up to simulate the phenomena of dynamical contact and frictional heating of crack faces when the plate containing the crack is excited by high-intensity ultrasonic pulses.In the finite element model,the high-power ultrasonic transducer is modeled by using a piezoelectric thermal-analogy method,and the dynamical interaction between both crack faces is modeled using a contact-impact theory.In the simulations,the frictional heating taking place at the crack faces is quantitatively calculated by using finite element thermal-structural coupling analysis,especially,the influences of acoustic chaos to plate vibration and crack heating are calculated and analysed in detail.Meanwhile,the related ultrasonic infrared images are also obtained experimentally,and the theoretical simulation results are in agreement with that of the experiments.The results show that,by using the theoretical method,a good simulation of dynamic interaction and friction heating process of the crack faces under non-chaotic or chaotic sound excitation can be obtained.     

Axial vibration characteristics of a cylindrical, radially polarized piezoelectric transducer with different electrode patterns

A circular cylindrical piezoelectric transducer with radial polarization is proposed. The axial vibration characteristics of the transducer are studied by three different methods: analytical calculation, FEM simulation and experiment. The symmetric and asymmetric excitation conditions are discussed in the Haskins and Walsh model. For the resonance frequencies of the transducer, the results from the above three methods coincide well with each other. For the vibration amplitude, there are some deviations between the FEM simulation and measurement results; some possible reasons for this are discussed. The influence of the electrode patterns on the excitation modes are also investigated in detail. Based on the study described in this paper, the research methodology for a cylindrical piezoelectric transducer is clarified.     

Analysis and optimization of trimorph ring transducers

The Kirchoff-Love plate theory and electroelasticity theory are combined to simulate the dynamic behaviors of the trimorph ring transducers under different boundary conditions. The transducer consists of an isotropic elastic ring laminated between two identical piezoelectric rings. Their electric current response, resonant frequencies, antiresonant frequencies and electromechanical coupling coefficients (EMCCs) are theoretically formulated and studied by numerical simulation. Also, the resonant frequencies and their corresponding mode shape are simulated by the finite element modelling to verify the theoretical results. Finally, to obtain the maximum energy conversion efficiency, the dynamic EMCC is optimized by varying the proportion of piezoelectric and elastic parts. It is shown that the dynamic EMCC depends on geometric thickness and radii ratios. Optimum settings for a particular transducer to reach the maximum dynamic EMCC are found for different boundary conditions. The trimorph ring transducer for the fixed inner and free outer surfaces boundary condition has slightly lower resonant and anti-resonant frequencies, and larger EMCCs than that for the free inner and fixed outer surfaces boundary condition does.     

Theoretical analysis of a quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy sensor

Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) sensors are based on a recent approach to photoacoustic detection which employs a quartz tuning fork as an acoustic transducer. These sensors enable detection of trace gases for air quality monitoring, industrial process control, and medical diagnostics. To detect a trace gas, modulated laser radiation is directed between the tines of a tuning fork. The optical energy absorbed by the gas results in a periodic thermal expansion which gives rise to a weak acoustic pressure wave. This pressure wave excites a resonant vibration of the tuning fork thereby generating an electrical signal via the piezoelectric effect. This paper describes a theoretical model of a QEPAS sensor. By deriving analytical solutions for the partial differential equations in the model, we obtain a formula for the piezoelectric current in terms of the optical, mechanical, and electrical parameters of the system. We use the model to calculate the optimal position of the laser beam with respect to the tuning fork and the phase of the piezoelectric current. We also show that a QEPAS transducer with a particular 32.8 kHz tuning fork is 2–3 times as sensitive as one with a 4.25 kHz tuning fork. These simulation results closely match experimental data.     

空气耦合电容式微超声换能器设计

建立了空气耦合电容式微超声换能器(CMUT)的理论方法,分析CMUT各个结构参数对其性能参数的影响。根据理论分析结果结合无损检测应用背景设计了一个由16个阵元构成的CMUT阵列,并采用SOI晶圆键合工艺制作。该阵列每个阵元包含16个圆形CMUT敏感单元,敏感单元的半径400μm,中心频率230 kHz。建立CMUT发射和接收瞬态仿真模型分别得到CMUT发射声压和接收灵敏度与激励电压的关系,并通过实验测试验证该仿真模型的准确性。最后通过实验对CMUT与商用压电空耦超声换能器的性能进行对比,实验结果表明CMUT的发射声压和接收灵敏度与商用换能器达到相同数量级,并且能够成功激发和接收铝合金板中A_0模态Lamb波。     

Dynamic modeling of thickness-mode piezoelectric transducer using the block diagram approach

This paper aims to provide an alternative method to determine the characteristics of a piezoelectric transducer from measurement. A block diagram approach is proposed to analyze the dynamic characteristics of a thickness-mode piezoelectric transducer at its resonance frequency. Based on the feedback loop framework, the input-output relations of the electromechanical interaction of the transducer are described in terms of linear block diagram models. Furthermore, the closed-loop relations from external force to vibration velocity and electric current from generated voltage are easily found by Mason’s rule to characterize the equivalent mechanical admittance and electrical impedance, respectively. An example of a Langevin transducer with 28.15 kHz resonance frequency is illustrated for dynamics analysis. The frequency responses of the piezoelectric transducer, resulting from a force and current input, are respectively measured to identify the system parameters of the feedback model. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

The trapped fluid transducer: modeling and optimization

Exact and approximate formulas for calculating the sensitivity and bandwidth of an electroacoustic transducer with an enclosed or trapped fluid volume are developed. The transducer is composed of a fluid-filled rectangular duct with a tapered-width plate on one wall emulating the biological basilar membrane in the cochlea. A three-dimensional coupled fluid-structure model is developed to calculate the transducer sensitivity by using a boundary integral method. The model is used as the basis of an optimization methodology seeking to enhance the transducer performance. Simplified formulas are derived from the model to estimate the transducer sensitivity and the fundamental resonant frequency with good accuracy and much less computational cost. By using the simplified formulas, one can easily design the geometry of the transducer to achieve the optimal performance. As an example design, the transducer achieves a sensitivity of around -200 dB (1 VmuPa) at 10 kHz frequency range with piezoelectric sensing. In analogy to the cochlea, a tapered-width plate design is considered and shown to have a more uniform frequency response than a similar plate with no taper.     

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.     

Monitoring of temperature variation in the focal region of an ultrasonic transducer

A method for remote monitoring of temperature in the focal region of a high-intensity ultrasonic transducer is described. Results of measurements and theoretical simulation are presented. The measurements were conducted on a polymer sample with thermophysical and acoustic parameters close to the properties of a soft biological tissue. The sample was heated by a focused piezoelectric transducer with different values of radiation power. The delay of a probe pulse transmitted through the heated region perpendicularly to the axis of the intense ultrasonic beam was detected. The local character of temperature measurements was provided by focusing the probe pulse at the heated region. The application of an additional transducer installed confocally with the probing one provided an opportunity to enhance the precision of measurements. An analysis was conducted on the basis of a numerical solution of the heat conduction equation. The function of thermal sources in the heat conduction equation was calculated according to the results of measuring the pressure distribution in the focal region of the heating transducer. The experimental data obtained agree well with the results of simulation and demonstrate a fundamental possibility of using the proposed ultrasonic technique for remote temperature measurements.     

Prediction of the properties of two-phase composites with a piezoactive component

The effective dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic constants of two-phase macroscopically piezoactive 3-0 and 3-3 composites are calculated. It is assumed that one of the components is a polarized ferroelectric ceramic material and the other is an inactive material with variable elastic properties. The limiting case when the elastic compliances of the inactive material tend to infinity (porous ferroelectric ceramics) is considered. The adequacy of this model to production technologies of piezoelectric composites is discussed. Computational results are compared with experimental data.     

Piezoelectric diaphragm for vibration energy harvesting

This paper presents a technique of electric energy generation using a mechanically excited unimorph piezoelectric membrane transducer. The electrical characteristics of the piezoelectric power generator are investigated under dynamic conditions. The electromechanical model of the generator is presented and used to predict its electrical performances. The experiments was performed with a piezoelectric actuator (shaker) moving a macroscopic 25 mm diameter piezoelectric membrane. A power of 0.65 mW was generated at the resonance frequency (1.71 kHz) across a 5.6 kOmega optimal resistor and for a 80 N force. A special electronic circuit has been conceived in order to increase the power harvested by the piezoelectric transducer. This electrical converter applies the SSHI (synchronized switch harvesting on inductor) technique, and leads to remarkable results: under the same actuation conditions the generated power reaches 1.7 mW, which is sufficient to supply a large range of low consumption sensors.     

Modeling electro-mechanical properties of layered electrets: application of the finite-element method

We present calculations on the deformation of two- and three-layer electret systems. The electrical field is coupled with the stress–strain equations by means of the Maxwell stress tensor. In the simulations, two-phase systems are considered, and intrinsic relative dielectric permittivity and Young's modulus of the phases are altered. The numerically calculated electro-mechanical activity is compared to an analytical expression. Simulations are performed on two- and three-layer systems. Various parameters in the model are systematically varied and their influence on the resulting piezoelectricity is estimated. In three-layer systems with bipolar charge, the piezoelectric coefficients exhibit a strong dependence on the elastic moduli of the phases. However, with mono-polar charge, there is no significant piezoelectric effect. A two-dimensional simulation illustrated that higher piezoelectric coefficients can be obtained for non-uniform surface charges and low Poisson's ratio of phases. Irregular structures considered exhibit low piezoelectric activity compared to two-layer structures.