The design, fabrication, and measured acoustic performance of a 1-3 piezoelectric composite Navy calibration standard transducer

The design, fabrication, and acoustic calibration of a new 1-3 piezoelectri c composite-based U.S. Navy standard (USRD-F82) are presented. The F82 dual array/parametric mode projector may be used as a reciprocal linear transdu cer, or may be used to exploit the nonlinear properties of the water to pro duce highly directional acoustic beams ( 4 to 3 deg) at relatively low freq uencies (5 to 50 kHz, respectively). As a result of its wide bandwidth, a b road range of primary as well as secondary frequencies of operation is poss ible. In the linear mode of operation the transducer provides two separate arrays to be addressed topside for either transmit or receive applications. The two circular apertures are centered on the acoustic axis and have acti ve diameters of 22.8 cm (9 in.) and 5.1 cm (2 in.). The smaller array apert ure could be used to obtain broader acoustic beams at relatively high frequ encies. Due to the absence of air-filled pressure release components, the t ransducer will operate over most ocean pressures and temperatures. A genera l description of the 1-3 piezoelectric composite-based transducer configura tion and measured performance is presented. (C) 2001 Acoustical Society of America.