Flexoelectric barium strontium titanate (BST) hydrophones

Flexoelectric hydrophones offer the possibility of reasonable sensitivity in lead-free systems. In this work, a dense barium strontium titanate ceramic with Ba:Sr ratio 70:30 and an effective flexoelectric coefficient, μ ~12, 105.6 ± 0.6 μC/m at room temperature was utilized prototype three-point bending hydrophone dimensions 77 × 10 0.67 mm3. Tap testing calibrated acoustic hammer showed resonant frequency 250 Hz maximum 80 pC/N. Finite element analysis (FEA) employed to verify experimental results refine predictive modeling capability. FEA used predict devices based on geometry, boundary conditions, material properties. The error between model experiment 7.6%. also enables calculations strain gradient produced material, allowing numerical element's expected output. Using technique, single three point designs were compared. 43% increase charge output design vs despite average decrease 48% each electrode pair. This would lower voltage by voltage-based unless voltages could be added series. studies found greatest low frequencies improved high using larger areas.