Abstract:

An underwater acoustic projector for synthetic aperture SONAR (SAS) application on an AUV has recently been developed. The transducer features a two layered 1-3 piezoelectric composite material stacked in mechanical series and electrically wired in parallel. This arrangement was selected in order to maximize the source level output. The transducer is resonant at 100 kHz but has been designed to deliver high sound-pressure levels for operation over the frequency range of 10 to 100 kHz. The center electrode of the monolithic 1-3 piezoelectric composite layers has been segmented to offer four individual elements such that combinations of the sectors offer the ability to access nine different apertures. The basic design of the piezoelectric composite material will be shown along with the methods used to accomplish the successful multilayering effect. The fabrication of the prototype array and the measured transmitting voltage responses (TVRs), source levels (SL), and beampatterns will also be presented. [Work supported by the NSWC/Coastal Systems Station.]