Development of a vector sensor using piezoelectric support beams
Author
Tiftikçi, Alper Yasin
Advisor
Çakmakcı, Melih
Date
2016-09Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
Underwater listening has attracted great interest since the twentieth century.
Formerly, scalar hydrophones were used to detect sounds underwater by measuring
only the pressure changes. These sensors needed to form an array to detect
the direction of an incoming wave. They were positioned with intervals and the
time delays of the sound among hydrophones gave the information of direction.
However, vector hydrophones have become an attractive alternative since they
can provide both scalar and vector information on their own.
An Acoustic Vector Sensor (AVS) is a device used to detect acoustic signals by
converting mechanical energy of an incident wave to a detectable electrical energy.
Its design is based on two parallel piezoelectric beams attached to a mechanical
sensing tip using a rotary joint component. The sensor uses piezoelectric elements
to convert mechanical strain into sensible electrical signal. Design of the sensor is
modular since each individual sensing element could be easily changed, tested and
calibrated. All parts of sensor has been fabricated by mechanical micromachining
and precisely assembled, which increases design and manufacturing
exibility.
In this thesis, the mechanical design of the sensor that uses the piezoelectric
e ect for detection of sound is presented. First, a computational analysis method
which predicts the dynamic response of the designed sensor is developed. Then,
a tigthly controlled vibration experiment platform is set up to emulate the e ect
of the motion of the acoustic particle. The computational simulations are then
validated with initial experiments and the design of the sensor is nalized.