Response estimation of micro-acoustic transducer for underwater applications using finite element method

Present study proposed a modeling method to estimate the responses of micro-acoustic transducer and new design of micro acoustic transducer with nickel aluminum bronze encapsulation. Proposed method utilizes finite element analysis by combining the piezoelectric and modal harmonic analyses of micro-structured acoustic transducer. First, novel design of piezoelectric micro-acoustic transducer with nickel aluminum bronze encapsulation was discussed. It was design specifically for sonar applications with resonance frequency at 122 kHz. Next, transmit and receive responses of the transducer was determined using proposed method with reference to underwater acoustic parameter. Finally, the estimation method was validated using existing calibrated transducers by reverse-engineering approach. As the result responses of micro-acoustic transducers were successfully estimated as a function of frequency. New transducer design with nickel aluminum bronze encapsulation has transmit response at 123 dB re 1μPa/V and receive response at -75 dB re 1V/μPa. Validation of the method reveals the average percentage error at 18.97%. Proposed method is useful for micro-acoustic transducer designer to determine responses before entering fabrication process.