Comparative finite element analyses of piezoelectric ceramics and polymers at high frequency for underwater wireless communications

Despite huge advances in wireless communications in the last few years, underwater wireless communications is still a not fully developed technology, due to the lack of efficiency of radio waves for underwater communication. This problem can be overcome by using acoustic waves instead. In order to implement high-speed acoustic communications, it is imperative to develop transducers with high performance at high frequency. In this paper, a study of both piezoelectric ceramics and polymers used as water-coupled ultrasonic transducers is presented. As the main goal is to analyze their performance for high-speed communications, the behaviour of the piezoelectric ceramic (lead zirconate titanate, PZT) and the piezoelectric polymer (poly(vynilidene fluoride),PVDF) at high frequencies in underwater environment are compared. Results show that PVDF has a better response under the same ideal conditions, mainly with increasing frequency.