Present status in flextensional transducer technology

Abstract

Use of flextensional transducers has been limited historically by an inability to design them accurately and by their apparent unsuitability for phased or conformal arrays. Reliable design requires development of cost-effective, relatively accurate, and preferably algebraic mathematical models. However, most early analytical research centered around large computer models; these were generally accurate, but too complex and expensive to provide important physical insight. Recent work on an equivalent circuit for Class IV flextensional transducers produced unrestrained equations of the required accuracy for peak radiated power, resonant halfpower bandwidth, resonant frequency, and the optimum power-bandwidth product design that represents the smallest, lightest, Class IV transducer for any acoustic requirements. This paper briefly summarizes the analytical background of the model; recent experimental work; application to several sonars, including both expendable and ship systems; and the ultimate capabilities of Class IV devices.