Optimal design of a 1-3 piezocomposite Tonpilz transducer by means of the finite element method

Underwater Tonpilz transducer is designed with 1-3 piezocomposite materials to overcome the problems with conventional piezoceramic transducers. With the FEM, the variation of the resonance frequency, bandwidth and sound pressure of the transducer are analyzed in relation to the structural variables of the transducer. Through statistical multiple regression analysis of the results, functional forms of the transducer performance are derived in terms of design variables. By applying the constrained optimization technique, SQP-PD, to the derived functions, the optimal structure of the transducer is determined that can provide the highest sound pressure level at a given resonant frequency over a pre-determined frequency range. The validity of the optimized results is confirmed through comparison of the optimal performance with that of the FEA.