Integrated photonic ultrasound transducers (IPUTs) are compact, high-sensitivity devices that combine mechanical sensing with optical readout using integrated photonics. IPUTs typically consist of optical waveguides integrated on a thin mechanical plate that serves as the acoustic sensing element. In many realizations, this plate is formed from thermally oxidized silicon dioxide layers commonly used in photonic fabrication processes. The oxidation process introduces significant residual compressive stress–typically between 200 MPa and 400 MPa–as the structure cools to room temperature. Such stresses can strongly influence the dynamic response of the plate through their contribution to the geometric stiffness of the structure. In this work, the influence of internal stress on the resonance frequency and receive transfer function (RTF) of IPUTs is investigated. Finite element models incorporating residual stress and geometric nonlinearity are developed and validated against experimental measurements and results reported in the literature. Parametric analysis shows that increasing compressive stress progressively reduces the resonance frequency while enhancing the RTF as the structure approaches the critical buckling condition. Beyond this point, changes in the prestressed equilibrium configuration lead to transitions in the dominant vibration mode, producing abrupt variations in the resonance frequency and RTF. These results highlight the importance of accounting for residual stress in the design and analysis of IPUTs and similar plate-based acoustic sensors to ensure reliable dynamic performance and predictable sensitivity.

Clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeters suffer from crosstalk—i.e., measurement errors due to the interference of signals generated in solid regions and solid–fluid interfaces with the required signal from the fluid. Although several approaches have been proposed to alleviate crosstalk, they only work in specific ranges of flow rates and pipe diameters, and some also introduce additional issues. We propose a novel clamp-on system design where the transmitting and receiving wedges are embedded with directional noise filtering mechanisms based on phononic crystals (PnCs) possessing directional band gaps (DBGs). PnCs are artificial materials consisting of periodic structures arrayed in a matrix medium exhibiting band gaps – i.e., frequency ranges where waves are attenuated – due to Bragg scattering. DBGs enable PnCs to propagate waves in specific directions while suppressing them in other directions. By guiding the input signal through the transmitting wedge to the wall, we minimize the generation of noise signals due to secondary reflections within the wedge. Similarly, by using the directionality of the DBG PnC in the receiver, we limit the effects of noise signals (that arrive in different directions) in the receiver. We numerically verify the DBG PnC embedded wedges’ performance by comparing wave propagation aspects of the PnC embedded clamp-on system with a standard clamp-on device. To that end, we develop accurate wave propagation models based on the Discontinuous Galerkin finite element method. By incorporating DBG PnCs into the wedges, we obtain about 20 dB increase in the signal-to-noise ratio compared to the clamp-on system with standard wedges.

A high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is critical for sensitive ultrasound applications. Unlike traditional piezoelectric sensors that rely on material properties, an integrated photonic ultrasound transducer (IPUT) separates sensing and read-out systems, allowing for better optimization. Here we use a silicon Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) embedded in a circular silicon dioxide membrane, where incident acoustic pressure modulates the optical phase. We extend the semi-analytical model introduced in our previous work to incorporate the device geometry and fabrication-induced internal stress, enabling accurate prediction of the transducer’s optomechanical response. This approach resulted in an experimentally measured sensitivity of 0.47 pm/Pa at a resonance frequency near 1 MHz, in close agreement with the model prediction of 0.46 pm/Pa. This performance represents a sevenfold improvement over previously reported devices [Lienders et al., Sci. Rep., 2015]. Additionally, we have developed two more IPUTs where multiple membranes were cascaded and their performance was experimentally investigated. The IPUT with three membranes had an RTF of 1.4 pm/Pa, while the IPUT with five membranes’ RTF was 2.24 pm/Pa. Our IPUTs also have excellent noise performance, as demonstrated by the noise equivalent pressure (NEP) of the device. NEP of IPUT with one membrane is 42.5 mPa, IPUT with three membranes is 15.5 mPa, and the IPUT with five membranes is 14.2 mPa. Compared to the state-of-the-art ultrasound sensors, our IPUT with five membrane shows 35 times lower NEP. Our results demonstrate that fabrication-aware modeling is crucial for achieving optimal sensitivity in IPUTs, establishing the proposed IPUT as a promising solution for underwater ultrasound sensing.

Ultrasonic flowmeters face unique challenges since, in addition to withstanding high fluid pressures, they have to avoid crosstalk, which is the interaction of the signals traveling through the fluid and the solid pipe. To avoid the crosstalk, which leads to poor accuracy or complete loss of the required signal, we develop a mounting mechanism based on phononic crystals (PnCs), which are artificial periodic materials possessing band gaps (BGs) due to Bragg scattering. These PnC structures should also possess high mechanical strength to sustain the fluid pressure. Designing PnCs for such applications is challenging as the BG width and the resistance to mechanical loading are conflicting objectives. To circumvent this, we propose a step-by-step design procedure to optimize both mechanical strength and wave attenuation performance of a single-phase 3D PnC waveguide using parametric sweeping and sensitivity analysis. We use finite element analysis (FEA) to characterize the behavior of the periodic unit cell and the waveguide. Since accurate dynamic FEA at high frequencies is computationally demanding, we develop surrogate models at different levels of the design process. We also consider additive manufacturing aspects in the design procedure, which we validate by 3D-printing the final design and measuring the parameters via computer tomography.

Underwater noise resulting from the monopile driving process can cause severe damage to marine wildlife, such as hearing injury, behavioral disturbance, or even death. Although current noise-attenuation techniques used in this process have shown a significant noise reduction at high frequency ranges, mitigating low-frequency noise is still extremely challenging. To address the problem, here we propose an elastic metamaterial-based structure composed of single-phase resonant structures. The proposed structure, which we call a meta-interface, is introduced between the monopile and the hammer and is used to remove energy from the input signal associated with high noise levels. To that end, we first identify the frequency ranges associated with high sound pressure levels, which were shown to be related to the monopile's eigenmodes. Then we design the meta-interface's periodic unit cells so that the elastic/acoustic waves at identified frequency ranges are attenuated. A meta-interface is then realized by replicating the unit cell along the monopile wall (matching the thickness) to form a ring-shaped layer, and then by stacking up these concentric layers. A frequency analysis of the pile driving system with the meta-interface shows that the new noise levels attain a significant attenuation in frequency ranges lower than 1000Hz. This demonstrates a novel solution for the low-frequency underwater noise issue during the hammering of offshore monopiles.

The band-gap frequencies of elastic metamaterials are ideally determined by a metamaterial architecture; yet, in practical situations, are often dependent on the material damping in their constituent(s). The analysis of viscoelastic metamaterials requires however substantial computational resources and, except for oversimplified cases, is solely done numerically. Here, we propose an analytical procedure based on the spectral element method (SEM) to analyze bulk metamaterials with viscoelastic damping as continuous systems. Due to intrinsic limitations of the SEM to deal with complex geometries, we develop a procedure to build an approximate model based on SEM frame elements. The viscoelastic behavior is included by means of complex viscoelasticity moduli expressed by the generalized Maxwell mechanical model. We validate this approach by analyzing metamaterial plates and verify the findings experimentally. We demonstrate that our SEM-based analytical model can accurately capture wave transmission around the first band-gap frequencies. Therefore, our extension of the SEM approach to analyze three-dimensional meta-structures is promising to characterize wave propagation in realistic viscoelastic structures (with any type of linear viscoelastic behavior) in an accurate and computationally efficient way.

Ultrasonic flowmeters that use transit-time ultrasonic transducers face measurement errors due to 'crosstalk,' whereby the working signal travels through the pipe wall and couplings, interfering with the signal from the fluid. Although various procedures have been proposed to solve the issue of crosstalk, they're limited to low-frequency ranges, or they are not effective in high-pressure environments. We propose a mounting mechanism based on a single-phase 3-D phononic crystal (PnC) waveguide that can mitigate crosstalk at high frequencies (megahertz range) and thus improve the flowmeters' measurement accuracy. PnCs are artificial materials consisting of periodically arranged scatterers thereby showing bandgaps (BGs) - ranges of frequencies where elastic/acoustic waves are attenuated - due to Bragg scattering. We design PnC wave filters by engineering the BG frequency range to the working signal of the ultrasonic flowmeter. We then fabricate the waveguide using additive manufacturing and connect it between the transducer and the pipe wall. Transient ultrasonic experiments show that transducers with PnC mountings attain a 40 dB crosstalk reduction in comparison with a standard transducer mounting configuration.

Phononic crystal band gaps (BGs), which are realized by Bragg scattering, have a central frequency and width related to the unit cell's size and the impedance mismatch between material phases. BG tuning has generally been performed by either trial and error or by computational tools such as topology optimization. In either case, understanding how to systematically change the design for a particular band structure is missing. This paper addresses this by closely studying the displacement modes within the wavebands that are responsible for the BG. We look at the variation in different displacement modes due to the changes in the geometry and correlate these changes to their corresponding band structures. We then use this insight to design the unit cell for a particular application, for instance, for generating partial BGs.