Spatial impulse response method for predicting pulse-echo fields from a linear array with cylindrically concave surface

This paper is intended to apply the spatial impulse response method (SIRM) to predict the pulsed-echo fields radiated by a linear array with a cylindr ically concave surface. To this end, an approach to computing the spatial i mpulse response (SIR) of a cylindrically curved, rectangular aperture is pr oposed. The approach obtains the SIR by applying coordinate transform and t hen superposing the SIRs of a row of narrow strips into which the aperture is divided in one direction (in which the aperture is curved). The strips a re so narrow that they can be considered planar, rectangular apertures whos e exact SIRs are available in analytic form. In a special case where the he ld points are on the center axis of the cylindrical curve, the analytic for m of the SIR of the curved, rectangular aperture is found. The SIR of a lin ear array with a cylindrically concave surface is then obtained using the a pproach. The pulsed-echo fields from the array (i.e., those radiated by the array, diffracted by a point-like scatterer, and received by the same arra y) are further simulated and have been measured using a point-like scattere r. The simulated and the measured results are compared, and the comparison shows that the simulated and the measured results are in very good agreemen t.