Naval Device Applications of Relaxor Piezoelectric Single Crystals

This SBIR Proposal addresses the need for improved acoustic performance at the low end of the required ADC MK4 frequency band to ensure countermeasure effectiveness against the ever increasing threat to U.S. submarines. Image Acoustics Inc. has teamed with Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems (UEOS), the current producer of ADC MK 4 countermeasures, to offer a solution that combines a unique new Trioid transducer design with the improved material properties of single crystal. Single crystal’s higher electromechanical coupling, higher piezoelectric d constant and lower modulus than conventional piezoelectric ceramic translates to dramatic improvements in bandwidth, transmit voltage response and resonant frequency, respectively. These improved material properties are essential to the enhancement of ADC MK4 low frequency performance, which is currently limited by the material properties of conventional ceramic. The proposed single crystal Trioid transducer is ideally suited for this low frequency application and will enable a fully specification compliant countermeasure with the added bandwidth capability for improved protection of our Navy’s most valuable assets. Phase I of this research and development project will demonstrate the feasibility of a practical device and will include transducer design, computer modeling and the fabrication and test of a scaled experimental prototype.