Modeling Wavefronts from Acoustic Phased Arrays by Computer

A computer simulator is described which allows the study in the near field of acoustic pressure waves generated by a linear phased array excited with short pulses. The simulator provides two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) representations of acoustic wavefronts and receiver sensitivity patterns generated by a pulsed phased array. Using the computer simulator, several phased arrays are studied to investigate transient effects in an area covering the near field of the corresponding unfocused arrays. Weak and strong focusing are compared. An algorithm for the optimal quantization of time delays, acoustic beampatterns and the structure of sidelobes and grating lobes are analyzed.