Structural design and simulation of a high‐performance P( <scp>VDF</scp> ‐ <scp>TrFE</scp> )‐based piezoelectric hydroacoustic transducer

Abstract Polymer‐based piezoelectric hydroacoustic transducers (PHTs) exhibit significant potential for marine applications in the fields of underwater exploration, acoustic communication and positioning, due to their superior acoustic impedance matching with water. This study employs finite element simulations to investigate a flexible poly(vinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) piezoelectric vibrator‐based PHT, and systematically discloses the impacts of vibrator dimensions, matching layers and backing layers on frequency‐domain, transient and steady‐state performance. The P(VDF‐TrFE) piezoelectric vibrating element with a thickness of 1 mm and a radius of 12 mm achieves a receiving sensitivity of −189.38 dB below 100 kHz. Bilayer matching configurations enhance acoustic transmission efficiency but increase clutter amplitude compared to single‐layer designs. Crucially, the polystyrene–polyurethane bilayer transducer withstands hydrostatic pressures up to 7.2 MPa, exceeding the tolerance of single‐layer structures. Furthermore, backing layers with acoustic impedance closely matched to the piezoelectric element significantly suppress reflected noise. These findings establish fundamental design principles for optimizing performance, material selection and manufacturing processes in piezoelectric hydroacoustic devices. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.