3D finite element modeling of obliquely oriented piezocomposite materials and transducer arrays

In this paper, a 3D FEA model is proposed to study the obliquely oriented piezocomposite array, where the transducer is formed of it 2-2 composite material in which the pattern of the composite material is oriented at an oblique angle to the elevation axis of the transducer array elements. Such obliquely oriented piezocomposite, as stated in US Patent 6,104,126, offers additional benefits such as easier in-process dimension registration, mechanical flexibility, and performance improvement by strongly suppressing the lateral resonance modes when compared with the conventional 2-2 composite with parallel or orthogonal orientation. A 3D FEA model using the commercially available PZFlex package has been developed to simulate the obliquely oriented piezocomposite material and transducer array. Experimental data from obliquely oriented piezocomposite materials of different orientation angles have been taken and compared with the model predictions. The 3D FEA modeling results showed very good agreement with the experimental data.