ASA 129th Meeting - Washington, DC - 1995 May 30 .. Jun 06

2pEA4. The effects of multilayering piezoelectric plates with implication to 1--3 piezocomposite materials.

David J. Powell

Dept. of Ocean Eng., Florida Atlantic Univ., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Thomas R. Howarth

Robert Y. Ting

Naval Res. Lab., Orlando, FL 32856-8337

This paper discusses the considerations of stacking piezoelectric plates mechanically in series (on top of each other) and electrically in parallel or series. Benefits include increased displacement for projectors and increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for hydrophones (because of self-shielding and decreased electrical impedance). The presentation will show why these enhancements are realized by using a mathematical solution of the one-dimensional (1-D) wave equation to describe how each layer is related to that in adjacent layers via continuity of particle displacement and force. The resultant set of simultaneous equations is solved using matrix manipulation algorithms over a specified frequency range in terms of the free-field voltage sensitivity (FFVS), transmitting voltage response (TVR), and electrical immitance characteristics. A temporal transient response is obtained through the inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). This computational efficient model is capable of piezoceramic or 1--3 piezocomposite transducer layers, as well as inactive layers. The 1--3 piezocomposites are input by using the Smith expressions for representing the piezocomposite as a homogeneous material. Application of 1--3 piezocomposites for multiple layering will be introduced and discussed. [Work sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.]