An approach is presented to analyze the transient behavior of a piezoelectric transducer in a pulse echo system using FFT algorithms. The radiation field is described using impulse response and Fourier integral techniques [P.R. Stepanishen, J. Acoust. Soc. Am.60, S100 (A) (1976)] whereas the transducer is described via the use of a distributed parameter model which includes piezoelectric losses. The approach can be used to readily evaluate the near field time dependent pressures which result from short pulse electrical excitations of a transducer. The receiving response of the transducer for the short pulse excitation can then be readily evaluated for the case of idealized scatterers in the acoustic near field. Extensive numerical results are presented for the near field pressures and receive voltages which result from the short pulse excitation of a piezoelectric disc operating in the thickness mode. For pulse durations which are less than the travel time across the disc, a multipulse structure is clearly observed in both the field pressures and the receive voltages. [This work was supported by NIH.]