Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric Crystals
Air-coupled ultrasonic techniques are being increasingly used for material characterization, non-destructive evaluation of composite materials using guided waves as well as for distance measurements. Application of those techniques is mainly limited by the big losses of ultrasonic signals due to att...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/1/95 |
| _version_ | 1798003732480262144 |
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| author | Rymantas J. Kazys Reimondas Sliteris Justina Sestoke |
| author_facet | Rymantas J. Kazys Reimondas Sliteris Justina Sestoke |
| author_sort | Rymantas J. Kazys |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Air-coupled ultrasonic techniques are being increasingly used for material characterization, non-destructive evaluation of composite materials using guided waves as well as for distance measurements. Application of those techniques is mainly limited by the big losses of ultrasonic signals due to attenuation and mismatch of the acoustic impedances of ultrasonic transducers and air. One of the ways to solve this problem is by application of novel more efficient piezoelectric materials like lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) type crystals. The objective of this research was the development and investigation of low frequency (<50 kHz) wide band air-coupled ultrasonic transducers and arrays with an improved performance using PMN-32%PT crystals. Results of finite element modelling and experimental investigations of the developed transducers and arrays are presented. For improvement of the performance strip-like matching elements made of low acoustic impedance, materials such as polystyrene foams were applied. It allowed to achieve transduction losses for one single element transducer −11.4 dB, what is better than of commercially available air-coupled ultrasonic transducers. Theoretical and experimental investigations of the acoustic fields radiated by the eight element ultrasonic array demonstrated not only a good performance of the array in a pulse mode, but also very good possibilities to electronically focus and steer the ultrasonic beam in space. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:13:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d1c8f548d584e84a756e81295fb7397 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:13:32Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d1c8f548d584e84a756e81295fb73972022-12-22T04:24:29ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202017-01-011719510.3390/s17010095s17010095Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric CrystalsRymantas J. Kazys0Reimondas Sliteris1Justina Sestoke2Ultrasound Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas LT-51423, LithuaniaUltrasound Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas LT-51423, LithuaniaUltrasound Institute, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas LT-51423, LithuaniaAir-coupled ultrasonic techniques are being increasingly used for material characterization, non-destructive evaluation of composite materials using guided waves as well as for distance measurements. Application of those techniques is mainly limited by the big losses of ultrasonic signals due to attenuation and mismatch of the acoustic impedances of ultrasonic transducers and air. One of the ways to solve this problem is by application of novel more efficient piezoelectric materials like lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) type crystals. The objective of this research was the development and investigation of low frequency (<50 kHz) wide band air-coupled ultrasonic transducers and arrays with an improved performance using PMN-32%PT crystals. Results of finite element modelling and experimental investigations of the developed transducers and arrays are presented. For improvement of the performance strip-like matching elements made of low acoustic impedance, materials such as polystyrene foams were applied. It allowed to achieve transduction losses for one single element transducer −11.4 dB, what is better than of commercially available air-coupled ultrasonic transducers. Theoretical and experimental investigations of the acoustic fields radiated by the eight element ultrasonic array demonstrated not only a good performance of the array in a pulse mode, but also very good possibilities to electronically focus and steer the ultrasonic beam in space.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/1/95ultrasonic transducerair coupledPMN-32%PT crystalsultrasonic array |
| spellingShingle | Rymantas J. Kazys Reimondas Sliteris Justina Sestoke Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric Crystals Sensors ultrasonic transducer air coupled PMN-32%PT crystals ultrasonic array |
| title | Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric Crystals |
| title_full | Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric Crystals |
| title_fullStr | Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric Crystals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric Crystals |
| title_short | Air-Coupled Low Frequency Ultrasonic Transducers and Arrays with PMN-32%PT Piezoelectric Crystals |
| title_sort | air coupled low frequency ultrasonic transducers and arrays with pmn 32 pt piezoelectric crystals |
| topic | ultrasonic transducer air coupled PMN-32%PT crystals ultrasonic array |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/1/95 |
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