The energy method for solving electroacoustic problems using combining finite element analysis and analytical methods

Abstract

The energy method for solving electroacoustic transducer problems requires calculation of the electrical, mechanical and electromechanical energies of a piezoelectric body from the vibration mode shapes, which are often difficult to obtain analytical particularly with structures having complex boundary conditions. An alternative approach is to determine the vibration mode shapes either experimentally or by finite element analysis and to proceed with computing the energies analytically. The frequency response can then be determined from an equivalent electromechanical circuit approach. An example of this hybrid approach applied to a flextensional transducer will be presented with comparison to experimental results. [Work supported by ONR Code 321.]