The example below illustrates the action of an ultrasonic cleaning device. A ceramic block is attached to a steel plate at the base of the tank containing water. The ceramic is excited by a voltage applied across the electrodes on the upper/lower surfaces. The vibration of the plate radiates acoustic energy into the water. The surface at the top of the tank is defined as free. Cavitation affects the properties of the acoustic medium, and in particular the fluid becomes lossy. The example is a simple plain strain model.
2D Ultrasonic Cleaning Model
 Animated pressure contours and structural displacements.50 KHz |
 Animated pressure contours and structural displacements.20 KHz |
Note: the structure has been translated vertically for clarity.