Crystal Tensile Properties for High Power, 1-3 Composite Projector Design

In this Phase I SBIR program TRS Technologies will develop high power, high frequency 1-3 composite transducers for high resolution imaging at ranges sufficient for naval applications such as mine classification. In order to understand and model the performance of 1-3 composite projectors, we will measure the electromechanical properties of crystals subjected to tensile stress. We will also initiate characterization of the full dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic property matrices of thermally stable ternary crystals. In Phase II this effort will be extended to high field, high stress electromechanical properties and thermal properties. In collaboration with Penn State Applied Research Laboratory, we will also begin development of new modeling techniques that will incorporate nonlinear effects with field, stress, and temperature. At the conclusion of the Phase I program, TRS and our team will have demonstrated the feasibility of using crystal 1-3 composites for high power, high frequency projector applications. This will serve as the basis for developing full scale transmit/receive arrays for side scan imaging systems in Phase II.