Investigation of electrical transient behavior of an ultrasonic transducer under impulsive mechanical excitation

This paper investigates the electrical transient responses of a bolt-clamped ultrasonic transducer (BLT) subjected to an impulsive mechanical excitation under various load conditions. The theoretical analysis obtained with a second-order model of the BLT is checked experimentally. The responses include open-circuit voltages and short-circuit currents. These responses occur at open- or short-circuited terminals of the BLT immediately after impulsive forces excite the BLT. The study of the responses is focused on maximum strengths, time constants and energy losses. Equations of the responses and the energy losses are first obtained from a second-order model of a linear system, including the BLT and an oscilloscope. Then, a driving and measuring system is constructed to generate the forces and record the responses. Moreover, effects of the forces on the responses and the energy losses are measured. Finally, applying the impulse responses to estimate the model parameters of the BLT is discussed.