Parametric simulation of piezoelectric transducer based on finite element method

Abstract

Purpose

Finite element analysis of underwater transducers typically requires a high level of expertise, and the iterative process of testing various sizes, material parameters and other factors is often inefficient. To address this challenge, this paper aims to introduce underwater transducer parametric simulation (UTPS) software to streamline the design and optimization process.

Design/methodology/approach

The design methodology integrates the strengths of ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) for parametric design with the Qt Creator framework for developing a visual interface. C++ is used to encapsulate complex, hard-to-master APDL macros and interact with ANSYS software to execute the relevant APDL macros, performing finite element analysis on the underwater transducer in the background. The results are then processed and displayed on the visual interface.

Findings

UTPS enables parametric modeling, modal analysis, harmonic response analysis and directivity analysis of underwater transducers. Users only need to input parameters into the software interface to obtain the transducer’s performance, significantly improving work efficiency and lowering the professional threshold. A prototype transducer was fabricated and tested based on UTPS results, which confirmed the accuracy of the software.

Originality/value

This paper presents an innovative parametric simulation tool for underwater transducers, combining finite element analysis and APDL to simplify and expedite the design process. UTPS reduces the need for specialized knowledge, cutting down on training costs, while its parametric design capabilities accelerate the design process, saving resources.

Citation

Chen, J., Wang, J., Zhu, R., Zhang, W. and Teng, D. (2025), "Parametric simulation of piezoelectric transducer based on finite element method", Sensor Review, Vol. 45 No. 2, pp. 296-312. https://doi.org/10.1108/SR-10-2024-0829