Optimization of the structure of 1-3 piezocomposite materials to maximize the performance of an underwater acoustic transducer using equivalent circuit models and finite element method

The structure of 1-3 piezocomposites has been optimized with such design variables as volume fraction of piezoceramics inside the composite and the thickness and aspect ratio of the piezoceramic pillars to enhance the performance of an underwater acoustic transducer operating in the thickness mode of the piezocomposites. Influence of the design variables on the transducer performance was analyzed with equivalent circuits and finite element method. In operation of the transducer, inter-pillar modes of vibration were likely to occur between piezoceramic pillars due to the lattice-structure of the piezocomposite, which could deteriorate the performance of the transducer. The structure of the 1-3 piezocomposite plate has been optimized to maximize transmitting, receiving and transmitting-receiving performance of the underwater acoustic transducer while preventing the coupling of the thickness mode with inter-pillar modes within the frequency range of interest. As results, volume fraction (VF) of 40.5% and aspect ratio (AR) of 0.4 showed the highest transmitting performance while VF of 30.0% and AR of 0.5 showed the highest receiving performance. For the transmitting-receiving performance, VF of 43.7% and AR of 0.5 were the optimal. Genetic algorithm was used in the optimal design.