Materials for High Performance Cymbal Transducers

• Published in: Journal of electroceramics 2004-07, Vol.13 (1-3), p.403-407
• Main Authors: Dogan, A, Uzgur, E, Markley, D C, Meyer, R J, Hladky-Hennion, A C, Newnham, R E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramics; Drivers; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Gain; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Optimization; Studies; Transducers
• ISSN: 1385-3449; 1573-8663
• DOI: 10.1007/s10832-004-5132-9

Cymbal transducers may be fabricated using different combinations of metal end caps and soft PZTs. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to model the in-air vibration modes of different transducer configurations and also the in-water sonar performance. Initially the FEA models were validated by comparison with experimental observations. Cymbal resonance frequencies were determined for five different metals showing that, for a given sized transducer, the first resonant frequency could be adjusted by changing the cap material. The highest coupling underwater was achieved using titanium caps. Changing the PZT driving element had only a minimal influence on the flexural resonant frequency, and cymbals fabricated using soft PZT had higher coupling coefficients in water than those with hard PZT, attributed to the higher piezoelectric coefficient and lower Young's modulus of the soft material. It was concluded that the performance of transducers for specific applications could be optimised by selection of the appropriate ceramic driving element and end cap material. 8 refs.