Parameter sensitivity study of a Field II multilayer transducer model on a convex transducer

Abstract

The influence of different model parameters describing a multilayer transducer model is addressed by altering each single simulation parameter within ±20% in steps of 2% and by calculating the pressure and the intensity at a field point located 112 mm from the source. The simulations are compared with a hydrophone measured pressure pulse and intensity from a single element of a 128 element convex medical transducer. Results show that mainly the lens material and the ceramic material are of importance for errors in the pressure pulse prediction. Specifically the thickness, the density, and the stiffness constants are of significance. Among the results it is found that a -4% change in lens stiffness yields a 6% relative error change and a -4% change in ceramic stiffness yields a -1.2% relative error change. When calculating intensity the piezoceramic and electronic driving circuits are of importance, where a similar change in the lens and the ceramic stiffness shows a -0.1% and a -12% relative error change, respectively.