My research paper on an acoustic spiral source
Analysis of an acoustic spiral source
Anthony Argueta
North Academic Center, City College Of New York, 5/123
ENGL 21007 – Section D2 (20174)
Sara Jacobson
March 6, 2024
Abstract/ introduction to the analysis
The analysis of an “In-Lab Demonstration of an Underwater Acoustic Spiral Source”. The study explores underwater acoustic spiral sources capable of generating spiral and circular sound waves with different variations of waveform depending on the angle of the bearing. I have noticed that during this lab report’s abstract, they use it to convey the information they are setting out to show quickly. For example “This paper reports the prototyping process and the multi-frequency acoustic tests performed in a water tank where the spiral source was characterized in terms of the transmitting voltage response” This shows me the scientist’s attention to detail as they tell the amount of tests that have been done. In the research the scientists show us an outline of a spiral acoustic source using a “standard piezoceramic cylinder”, showing its ability to generate both spiral and circular fields. I come to know this information as it is stated in the abstract and they relay this information making a quick rundown of the information when discussing the experiment. The experiment discusses prototyping and presents findings from different acoustic tests conducted in a water tank. The spiral source is characterized in terms of transmitting voltage response, phase, and horizontal and vertical directivity patterns which essentially means that these are the outcomes and results of the experiments.
Introduction of the Lab report
From further analysis I can see the introduction is rather long and a mesh between the introduction and the materials. The intro discusses the long-standing use of piezoelectric materials in transducer production, dating back to World War I. Despite them being very old materials used in the past, innovative designs began to emerge, creating various uses such as thrusters, robotic fingers, and underwater acoustic transducers. The focus of the experiment is on the recent development of a spiral acoustic source that they have created in the lab and the scientists want to recreate this and show its capabilities the experiment with show what piezoelectric materials can still be capable of generating a spiral acoustic field, unlike traditional circular fields. The paper introduces a very simple design for a spiral source using a very commonly available cylinder; which is used as a transmitter. This design stands out in the experiment because by requires only a single ceramic cylinder, distinguishing it from previous implementations. I think that this small portion of the introduction is instrumental in easing us into the experiment as it lays out the materials and essentially the why of the experiment; detailing how useful materials that are considered outdated can be; which highlights the main purpose of this experiment giving it a purpose and goal being made to achieve when experiment.
Figure One – Materials/Discussion
This lab report seems to connect the materials to the discussion of the lab report. One way the lab report seems to connect the materials and discussion is in this evidence “Spiral sources can be divided into two types, which were first described by Hefner and Dzikowicz: vibration of a surface in the form of a spiral, termed “Physical-Spiral” which is giving us a detailed response of what can happen in this experiment but it also discusses the people responsible for finding this out and terms that have been given to the experiment which opens up the conversation as to if it should be called this and possibly why the name is with the subject in question. This section is critical to the entire lab report because the lab report consists of so much depth on the detail of each material used to perform this experiment; it’s made clear when reading the lab report that the materials make up most of the lab report and details the significance of this section.
Figure 6 and why I believe the Lab is formatted this way
In Figure 6 you can visually see the experiment’s layout and it is specifically detailed down to the measurement; It also explains the measurements and details the specifics of the creation of the underwater spiral.
Now the layout of the Labraport is different from the norm, but I believe that it is formatted this way because of the topic and its resources as it is not an original experiment but a recreation and a further reflection of the experiment as it sets out to explain how this spiral is created and provide us further information on it opening up new discussion points. The way that this lab report is formatted is mostly full of the materials and information that goes into depth on how the experiment is performed being a sort of analysis. But I believe that this brings out the most in this lab report because the lab report allows for full comprehensive detail of the experiment and the why becomes more important to the experiment. This experiment highlights the positive aspects of listing your details and your materials while providing good insight into the topic at hand. The format of this lab report brings a new element of thinking to the equation because it’s more process-based so that people can actually recreate this experiment and so it could be done again, therefore being more of a manual.
Conclusion
This study concluded that the experiment created two types of spiral acoustic sources using different frequencies or “kHz” What was created was a Physical-Spiral, which involves the spiral vibration of a surface and is slim, and a Phased-Spiral, which employs multiple different frequencies with different sound waves. Other new things found in this study included phased spiral designs utilizing piezoceramic cylinders as a plain way to create this spiral.
I like the way this conclusion was set out as it made the experiment easier to understand as it should be. I also noted that it stated what information was gained such as two different spiral acoustic sources i believe this is important to a lab report because without a clear gain and then observation of the gain a lab report can’t be complete; The image being used in the conclusion contributes a large amount just as the others because it creates checkpoints in the research which help to further aid in ones understanding of the research. Another thing I noticed in the conclusion of this lab report is the clear showing of faults in this lab report and how this experiment could have gone better in the quote saying “ In future works, an accurate spiral source bearing angle positioning system should be used for a better-receiving calibration and a transmitting calibration methodology should be developed.” I like this not being added because it sets up the next person who attempts this experiment and it helps relay information that could be useful.
References
I believe that the references were sorted out well as they were given throughout the text. The authors and scientists did a good job of crediting the proper sources. There was not much in-text citation throughout the text because it was all done by themselves but there indeed are references to the research that had been done that will be in the original writer’s bibliography.
Bibliography: https://mdpi-res.com/sensors/sensors-23-04931/article_deploy/sensors-23-04931.pdf?version=1684573660
