Flexible ultrasonic transducer arrays for nondestructive evaluationapplications. II. Performance assessment of different arrayconfigurations

摘要

For pt. I see ibid., vol. 43, pp. 385-92 (1996). This workndescribes a fundamental investigation into a new series of transducernarray structures intended for those applications where surfacenconformity is desirable. The first objective is to consider whichnmaterial combinations will offer flexibility, while at the same timenmaximize the electromechanical efficiency for operating into solid loadnmedia. The theoretical approach of Part I is employed to compare andnassess different array structures for nondestructive evaluation (NDE)nimaging applications. The array structures under consideration includenmultielement piezocomposite and piezopolymer arrays, and hybrid devicesncomprising piezocomposite transmitters with piezopolymer receivers.nExperimental data are provided for a novel array configuration,ncomprising a separate piezocomposite transmitter coupled to anpiezopolymer receiver. Good agreement is demonstrated betweennexperimental and theoretical results