Design and development of D33 mode piezoelectric acoustic transducer array using PVDF for underwater application

Abstract

An acoustic transducer arrays is well known applied in acoustic imaging system. This acoustic imaging system is applied in many areas for example medical imaging and underwater imaging system. D33 mode based piezoelectric acoustic transducer array is designed and developed for underwater applications. The previous researchers have a problem with sensitivity of transducer. The transducer array is used d33 mode concept to increase the sensitivity of transducer. The transducer array is fabricated on Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with sensing element, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a matching layer. The transducer array is characterized using Pulse Echo experimental method. This method is normally used to characterize the transducer in underwater applications. The calibration for hydrophone is made to ensure that the capability and performance of reference transducer is followed the given specification. The hydrophone and PAT linear array are tested in test tank. Three pin, Pin A, Pin B, and Pin C are being tested. The result is shows that Pin B has highest sensitivity, followed by Pin A and Pin C is the lowest. All pins have resonance frequency at 1250 kHz. The fractional bandwidth for Pin B is at 34%.