EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N33430/01
Title: NEW 3-1 MULTILAYER PIEZOCOMPOSITE ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS
Principal Investigator: Hayward, Professor G
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
DERA
Department: Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 January 2001 Ends: 30 April 2004 Value (£): 261,044
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Electronic Devices & Subsys. Materials Characterisation
Materials testing & eng.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
Electronics
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The work will bring the well-known sensitivity and bandwidth advantages of piezocomposites to ultrasound applications, previously impossible at a reasonable cost, in the 20-100 kHz frequency range. These include medium frequency sonar, industrial processing, and low frequency NDT. The fundamental innovation will be to create new 3-1 piezoceramic-polymer composites in which ceramic fingers are fully connected and the polymer is in isolated volumes.Phase I will establish understanding of the fundamental behaviour of the 3-1 structure, relating it to design parameters such as finger geometry, comparing it with 1-3 and 2-2 structures, and studying how to control it by appropriate design choices. Phase II will extend this to external transmission and reception behaviour including beam patterns and self-noise and will consider thermal behaviour at high drive powers and the use of filler materials that tolerate as high temperatures as the ceramic. Phase III will take place in parallel with phase II and will explore large-area and non-planar monolithic 3-1 devices including issues such as fabrication processes, design to achieve specific electrical impedance, and the propagation and designed attentuation of lateral modes.Close contact with SonaVision Ltd, a sonar transducer manufacturer, and DERA/MoD, a s substantial end user, will ensure ultimate commercialisation of work.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.strath.ac.uk