Abstract
High-frequency unfocused polymer array transducers are developed using an adhesive-free layer-by-layer assembly method. The current paper focuses on experimental and numerical methods for measuring the acoustic performance of these types of array transducers. Two different types of numerical approaches were used to simulate the transducer performance, including a finite element method (FEM) study of the transducer response done in COMSOL 5.2a Multiphysics, and modeling of the excited ultrasonic pressure fields using the open source software k-Wave 1.2.1. The experimental characterization also involves two methods (narrow and broadband pulses), which are measurements of the acoustic reflections picked up by the transducer elements. Later on, measurements were undertaken of the ultrasonic pressure fields in a water-scanning tank using a hydrophone system. Ultrasonic pressure field measurements were visualized at various distances from the transducer surface and compared with the numerical findings.
Highlights
Quantitative acoustic imaging and characterization using ultrasonic transducers has emerged within many fields related to nondestructive testing (NDT) and medical imaging
The electromechanical coupling coefficient of ferroelectric polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and its copolymer PVDF trifluoroethylene [P(VDF-TrFE)] are lower than piezoceramic materials, polymer transducers have been successfully employed for various high-frequency ultrasound imaging in biological applications [11,12]
Transducer array made from an adhesive free method unfocused high frequency array transducers
Summary
Quantitative acoustic imaging and characterization using ultrasonic transducers has emerged within many fields related to nondestructive testing (NDT) and medical imaging. These include the noninvasive micro-structural characterization of materials, characterization of surface and subsurface mechanical properties of piezoelectric materials, structural health monitoring of composite structures, surface defects on polymer circuit, and studies of anisotropic phonon propagations [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. The electromechanical coupling coefficient of ferroelectric polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and its copolymer PVDF trifluoroethylene [P(VDF-TrFE)] are lower than piezoceramic materials, polymer transducers have been successfully employed for various high-frequency ultrasound imaging in biological applications [11,12]. The materials are Sensors 2018, 18, 1908; doi:10.3390/s18061908 www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors
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