Koosha, Abdolrahim (1991) Ultrasonic transducers for air and underwater communication. (PhD thesis), Kingston Polytechnic, .

Abstract

The performance of a novel radiator capable of producing ultrasonic waves in air and liquids has been investigated. For commercial transducers when operating in air or liquids, impedance matching is the necessary condition for maximum transfer of energy to the medium (thus no standing waves are involved). 'However, "for this radiator the formation of the mechanical standing waves on it is the key condition for directional radiation of energy into the surrounding environment. Under this condition the radiator exhibits a practical conversion of electrical energy into ultrasound. To further improve the performance of the radiator . the wavelength coincidence condition must be satisfied. This condition implies that the wavelength of the bending vibration developed on the blade to be the same as that in the medium to which it is coupled. Consequently, an end-fire radiation pattern is obtained. The theory of this when applied to water and also for a double blade configuration are presented. The main component of the radiator consists .of a cantilever blade on which a pair of piezoelectric (PZT) ceramic bars are fixed. These the so called excitation gauges, are fixed on both sides of a thin rectangular metal blade near the clamped end. When wavelength coincidence condition is fulfilled, the radiator transmits ultrasonic wave in a highly directional pattern. The direction of propagation of ultrasound is solely steered by frequency of the applied signal. System imperfections such as inter modal coupling when used underwater are considered. An analytical approach is developed to investigate the performance of the radiator for transmission of digital signals in air as well as in water. This method is used to evaluate the efficiency of the device as a suitable means for communication between divers or a diver and an underwater stationary station. Amplitude modulation of speech signals demonstrated the capabilities of a new underwater transmission. system whose narrow beam width is the condition to obtain power gain and performance. The possibility of the same system to be used as a passive sonar is also examined. Finally, simulations of the above system to be implemented in beam-forming in air and in water have been developed.

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