| This work describes the finite element analysis of a piezoelectric acoustic levitator. The acoustic levitator consists of a Langevin transducer and a steel reflector. The finite element method is used to determine the electrical impedance, the transducer face displacement and the acoustic radiation potential that acts on a small sphere. The numerical electrical impedance is compared with that obtained experimentally by an impedance analyzer and the numerical displacement is compared with that obtained by a fiber-optic vibration sensor. The levitator was used to levitate small Styrofoam spheres. The positions of the spheres show good agreement with the positions of minimum acoustic radiation potential. |