Transient pressure fields of PVDF transducers

The radiated pressure fields of pulsed polyvinylindene difluoride (PVDF) transducers have been determined experimentally, and compared to theory in three dimensions. The tranducers were in the form of disks, cones, or bowls, excited with a range of known transients in the form of gated sinusoidal voltages. It is demonstrated that good agreement is possible between theory and experiment, and it is shown that more marked interference effects occur as the duration of excitation tone burst is increased. It is also shown that PVDF transducers may be manufactured so as to behave as plane piston radiators.