A monolithically integrated and flexible 1-2-2-type three-components piezocomposite array: Theory and experimental validation

The development of flexible and conformal transducer arrays is critical for next-generation underwater acoustic systems, enabling wide-beam coverage and high-fidelity signal acquisition. In this work, a novel 1-2-2-type piezocomposite integrating piezoceramics, rigid polymer, and flexible polymer is proposed, modeled, and experimentally validated for monolithic transducer array applications. An equivalent parameter model is established to reveal the relationships among ceramic volume fraction, acoustic impedance, and electromechanical coupling, leading to an optimized configuration that achieves high coupling efficiency ( k t = 0.64) and low acoustic impedance ( Z = 15.6 Mrayls). The composite is fabricated through a monolithic dual-dicing and dual-filling process, effectively overcoming the limitations of conventional manual assembly. Experimental results show excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, and the array exhibits outstanding element uniformity, with the relative deviation among nine elements maintained below 2%. These results confirm the superior flexibility, consistency, and integration potential of the proposed design. The 1-2-2 composite offers a robust and scalable route for high-consistency, wide-beam conformal transducer arrays, providing new opportunities for advanced underwater sonar and acoustic imaging systems.