Farfield angular radiation pattern generated from arrayed piezoelectric transducers

Abstract

Farfield angular radiation patterns generated from plank-shaped and arrayed piezoelectric transducers are obtained by using a finite element analysis method. The calculation and experimental results are obtained for piezoelectric ceramic transducers with typical width W to thickness T ratio of 0.6 and 2.0. At W/T=0.6 the radiation pattern is that of diffraction from a plane aperture, while at W/T=2.0 the pattern is significantly different from the plane aperture theory. This is mainly due to the coupling between the thickness and other modes of vibrations in the piezoelectric transducer.