ELASTIC-WAVE GENERATION BY PIEZOCERAMIC PATCHES

Elastic flexural and longitudinal waves can be generated in structure by using piezoelectric transducers. These waves may be used to obtain fundamental properties of the medium or to locate flaws. Bulk wales ca n he created in a thin piezoelectric plate by applying an electrical s ignal to interdigital electrodes deposited on each side of the plate, These transducers can be used to generate ultrasonic bulk waves with a wide range of frequencies and amplitudes controlled by a number of el ectrodes and a delayed voltage independently applied to each electrode . Numerical results demonstrating the finite element simulation of pie zoelectric actuators and sensors in generating and detecting elastic b ulk waves are presented, Experimental observations of flexural waves g enerated by surface mounted piezoceramic plates are compared with the finite element results, Bulk wave generation and detection using inter digital electrodes are simulated and their potential application as pr obes in smart structures is discussed.