Analysis of mechanical limitations of high power piezoelectric transducers using finite element modelling

• Published in: Ultrasonics 1991-05, Vol.29 (3), p.201-207
• Main Authors: Dubus, B., Debus, J.C., Decarpigny, J.N., Boucher, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustics; Exact sciences and technology; finite element modelling; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); mechanical limitations; Physics; transducers; Transduction; acoustical devices for the generation and reproduction of sound
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/0041-624X(91)90057-F

The design of high power electro-acoustic transducers is a difficult problem in many fields of acoustics. The mechanical, electrical, thermal or acoustical phenomena which limit the available power need to be controlled. To determine the mechanical limitations of a transducer, knowledge of both the mechanical limit of the materials and the stress field in the structure is essential. Although there are many experimental data available to designers, the classical transducer models are limited to simple geometries. The present study uses the finite element code ATILA to compute the stress field, which is then compared to the mechanical limit of the material using classical criteria. The method has been applied to analysis of the mechanical behaviour of a length expander transducer used in macrosonics, the problem of interest being application of prestress, as well as the dynamic behaviour at high drive levels. In both cases, very good agreement is found when the computed results are compared to strain gauge measurements.