Uncertainties propagation in the reconstruction of ultrasonic fields from spatially averaged data

A method for the reconstruction of the sound field from spatially averaged data furnished by finite-size receivers has been previously proposed. The method is based on the deconvolution of the aperture effects of the sensor. For the evaluation of its accuracy, the propagation of uncertainties through the reconstruction process is investigated by using a Monte Carlo simulation method. This latter is first checked for a simulated sound field than applied to real measurement data. The overall uncertainty (stochastic and systematic) of the reconstructed field of a planar transducer in a cross-sectional plane of the particular Fresnel zone and for critical receiver dimensions to,wavelength ratio, lies within ±10% for the amplitude. and 30° for the phase (95% confidence level). These uncertainties lie in a range which is acceptable in the ultrasound metrology field.