An experimental and theoretical investigation into the fluid-loaded performance of 1-3 piezocomposite transducer array structures: with specific regards to device surface displacement and beam profile

This paper presents an investigation into the surface displacement and beam pattern of 1-D and 2-D piezocomposite transducer arrays. For 2-D array structures, the displacement contribution from adjacent (non-driven) array elements is investigated and the influence on beam pattern explained. The response of 1-D transducer array elements is then examined under conditions of fluid loading and the effect of adding mechanical matching layers to the 1-D device is investigated. Measured and theoretically predicted surface displacement and beam profile responses are presented for both devices, with excellent correlation in all cases.