This paper describes how the acoustic field generated by a phased array coupled to a solid can be modelled. In a first step, a modelling of the transducer-solid system is presented and validated by accurate measurements of the acoustic field. Then, thanks to some approximations, a modelling of a contact phased array is proposed. Simulation results are compared to measurements of the acoustic field generated in a duralumin sample by the phased array.

The results presented here have been obtained by P. Gendreu at "Laboratoires d'Electronique PHILIPS" (Limeil-Brévannes - France) in collaboration with the "Laboratoire Ondes et Acoustique" (ESPCI - CNRS - Université Paris 7 - Paris - France).