Ceramic requirements for high power deep-going class iv flextensional transducers

Abstract

Class IV flextensional transducers have become accepted as a means of obtaining high acoustic powers at low frequencies, but their compactness places high demands on the ceramic. In addition, they can be provided with very strong shells to work at depth but this in turn imposes extra demands on the ceramic. In particular, this generates a requirement to operate linearly under high compressive stress. This paper discusses those demands.