Modal analysis of class V flextensional transducer

This paper presents the In-Air analysis (modal analysis) of miniaturized class V flex tensional transducer called 'cymbal'. The effect of PZT's and material properties on resonance, anti resonance frequencies, effective coupling coefficient and vibration modes have been investigated using ATILA Finite Element Analysis (FEA) code. Flex tensional transducers were first developed in the 1920's and have been used as underwater transducers since the I95O's. They consist of a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive drive element and a mechanical shell structure. The shell is used as a mechanical transformer which transforms the high impedance, small extensional motion of the ceramic into low impedance, large flexural motion of the shell. In this study ATILA FEA code was used to calculate vibration modes and associated resonance and anti resonance frequencies.