A high sensitivity hydrostatic piezoelectric transducer based on transverse piezoelectric mode honeycomb ceramic composites

摘要

A new piezoelectric composite transducer based on the ceramic honeycomb structure is introduced. The transducer is operated in the transverse piezoelectric (TP) d/sub 31/ mode. The ceramic honeycomb configuration enables one to fabricate a TP honeycomb transducer by either embedding a honeycomb ceramic skeleton into a soft polymer matrix to form a composite or by blocking the openings of the honeycomb cells with thin layers of epoxy to form an end-capped honeycomb structure. With the unique honeycomb configuration and TP operation mode, the piezoelectric d/sub 33/ response of the ceramic is nearly eliminated and the piezoelectric responses from the three orthogonal directions add together when the transducer is subjected to a hydrostatic pressure. As a result, the transducer exhibits exceptionally high hydrostatic piezoelectric response.