Numerical Modeling of Array Interactions

Abstract

Numerical methods are frequently used to calculate array interactions. This paper summarizes some of the advantages that numerical methods have over the more classical analytical methods. Many of the numerical methods for calculating array interactions are based on the Helmholtz integral relations. This paper describes one such method and shows how it can be coupled to a finite element model for the individual transducers in the array. A very useful approximation for the array interaction matrices is also presented. To illustrate the validity of this numerical model, a comparison between numerical and experimental results for a three element flextensional array is also presented.