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Research Article

Study on the design of flextensional transducer considering linear array structure

선형배열구조를 고려한 Flextensional 트랜스듀서 설계에 관한 연구

Ji-hun Han1*
,
jung-hyeon Lee2
,
min-seop Sim2
,
seung-jin Lee2
한 지훈1*
,
이 정현2
,
심 민섭2
,
이 승진2
1LIG넥스원 해양연구소
2LIG넥스원 해양연구소
*Corresponding Author
30 November 2025. pp. 580-589
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Abstract

For underwater surveillance Sound Navigation And Ranging (SONAR) systems, research on transmitting sensors has increasingly focused on achieving lower operating frequencies, higher output power, and reduced size and weight. Low-frequency, high-power transmitting sensors, in particular, offer significant advantages in enhancing detection range and operational efficiency when integrated into towed sonar systems operating on constrained platforms. This study presents the design and development of a transmitting sensor optimized for integration into an active linear array sensor system. The internal transmitting element was implemented as a barrel-stave type flextensional transducer, Key design parameters for the transducer included the shell thickness and the number, length, and width of the slots. The transmission acoustic characteristics were evaluated using COMSOL-based acoustic-structural coupling analysis, taking into consideration the five-channel array configuration as well as the effects of the protective rubber and insulating oil (Isopar M). Based on the simulation results, a prototype of the transducer was fabricated and experimentally tested. The center frequency showed strong agreement with the numerical prediction, and the transmission sensitivity exhibited only a marginal deviation of approximately 0.6 dB from the measured data, thereby validating the accuracy of the simulation. Consequently, the design–fabrication–testing outcomes of the flextensional transducer-based active linear array sensor demonstrate both the technical feasibility and the performance scalability for future multi-channel array implementations, providing a practical design guideline and engineering reference for subsequent developments.

Keywords
Flextensional transducer
Active array sensor module
Towed line array SONAR
Transmitting Voltage Response (TVR)

수중 감시를 위한 Sound Navigation And Ranging(SONAR), 그 중 송신센서는 보다 낮은 주파수, 높은 출력, 그리고 소형화/경량화를 목표로 많은 연구가 진행중이다. 특히 저주파 대역 고출력 송신센서는 제한된 플랫폼에서 예인 소나 시스템으로의 활용 시 탐지 운용 효율이 높아지는 장점이 있다. 본 연구에서는 능동선형배열센서 구조의 개발을 고려한 송신센서의 설계에 대한 내용을 다룬다. 능동선형배열센서의 내부 송신부는 Barrel-stave 형태의 Flextensional 트랜스듀서를 적용하고, 쉘 두께와 슬롯 형상(개수·길이·폭)을 주요 설계 변수로 설정하였다. 5채널 배열 구조를 기반으로 고무호스 및 절연유(ISOPAR M)를 고려한 송신 음향특성을 COMSOL 기반 음향–구조 연성해석으로 검토하였다. 해석 결과를 바탕으로 트랜스듀서 시제품을 제작하여 시험한 결과 중심주파수는 일치하였고, Transmitting Voltage Response(TVR)은 시험결과 대비 약 0.6 dB의 오차를 보여 해석 결과의 타당성을 검증하였다. 결론적으로 Flextensional 트랜스듀서를 기반으로 한 능동선형배열센서의 설계–제작–시험 결과는 향후 다채널 배열 시 성능 변화, 실현 가능성에 대한 기술적 타당성과 설계 가이드를 제시하였다는 점에서 의의를 가진다.

키워드
Flextensional 트랜스듀서
능동선형배열센서
예인형 소나 시스템
송신감도 (TVR)
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Information
  • Publisher :The Acoustical Society of Korea
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국음향학회
  • Journal Title :The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국음향학회지
  • Volume : 44
  • No :6
  • Pages :580-589
  • Received Date : 2025-08-26
  • Revised Date : 2025-09-29
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-05
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7776/ASK.2025.44.6.580
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