Iranian Journal of Manufacturing Engineering

Iranian Journal of Manufacturing Engineering

Experimental investigation and numerical simulation of the acoustic field of the ultrasonic cleaning transducer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mahdi Soleymani 1
Ashkan Safarbali 2
Rezvan Abedini 2
Vahid Fartashvand 3
Yunes Alizadeh 1
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
2 School of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
3 Faculty of Art, Alzahra University, Tehran,
10.22034/ijme.2024.469216.1988
Abstract
High-power ultrasonic transducers emit high-frequency waves in a liquid environment, creating intense sound fields that cause the phenomenon of cavitation inside the liquid tank. The explosion of small bubbles, known as cavitation, results from intense sound fields, as well as physical and chemical phenomena. This process is used to remove contamination from the surface of sensitive and complex parts. Determining the acoustic field of the ultrasonic transducer within the tank can assist in identifying the required number of transducers, the optimal distance between them, and the appropriate dimensions of the tank. Given the high cost of experimental tests, the finite element method is a suitable tool for predicting the behavior of the vibrating assembly and determining the ultrasonic acoustic field within the liquid inside the tank. In this research, the resonance frequencies of the vibrating assembly and the acoustic wave propagation field were investigated using COMSOL finite element analysis software. After fabricating the components and assembling the tank, the acoustic field resulting from ultrasonic vibration was measured in different positions of the tank using a high-frequency hydrophone during the experimental test phase. Based on the experimental mapping data and its comparison with the simulation results, both harmonic and superharmonic frequencies were observed simultaneously in the water environment. The consistency between the simulation results and the experimental tests demonstrated that the simulation method is a suitable tool for predicting the behavior of the liquid inside the tank under high-power ultrasonic vibrations.
Keywords
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Acoustic Field
High Frequency Waves
Transducer
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