Numerical modeling of a lumped acoustic source actuated by a piezoelectric stack device that is driven by a switching amplifier

This paper studies an acoustic source with a relatively small thickness and high bending stiffness. Piezoelectric actuators are used to drive the moving component of the acoustic source. In the current study, a lumped model is used to represent the acoustic source that is excited by a piezoelectric stacked actuator. The equivalent electrical circuit of the lumped acoustic source can directly be connected to the electrical circuit of a switching amplifier. Various methods are used to estimate the radiation impedance of the acoustic source. The effectiveness of these methods is investigated when they are used in combination with the equivalent electrical circuit of the lumped acoustic source, the actuator and the amplifier. Finally, result of a numerical finite element simulation is compared with the results of the fully-lumped equivalent electrical circuit.