Elasticity Solution of Polymeric Piezoelectric C-Block Composite Actuator

Abstract

An elasticity solution is developed to investigate the mechanical behavior of polymeric piezoelectric C-block composite actuators, which were recently proposed to overcome the limitations of conventional bimorph and stack configurations. The stress functions are used to derive the general equations governing the behavior of induced strain actuation under various load conditions. Closed-form expressions are presented for the displacements and stresses. Comparisons of the present approach are made with classical elasticity solutions for curved beams and existing approximate solutions for curved actuators for a simplified case. The results from the current solution also provide physical insight into the mechanism of C-block actuators.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Brei, D. 1994a. "Design and Development of a New Class of Piezoelectric Actuators for Force Improvement," Proc Society of EngineeringScience 31st Annual Technical Meeting, College Station, TX, Oct. 10-12.

Brei, D. 1994b. "Design and Development of a Piezoelectric Microactuator Building Block for Deflection Improvement," Proc. Symposium on Micro-Mechanical Systems, ASME WinterAnnual Meeting, Chicago, IL, Nov. 6-11, 2:717-723.

Brei, D. , Ervin, C. and Moskalik, V. , 1996. "Deflection-Voltage Performance of Asymmetrically Activated Piezoelectric C-Block Actuators," Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Structures and Integrated Systems, SPIE, 276-286.

Chattopadhyay, A. , Mitchell, L.A. and Gu, H. 1996. "Refined Modeling of Adaptive Composites with Curved Actuators," Society of Engineering Science, 33rdAnnual Technical Meeting Smart Structures and Materials Symposium, Oct. 20-23, Tempe, AZ.

Crawley, E. F. and Anderson, E. H. 1989. "Detailed Models of Piezoelectric Actuation of Beams," Proc. of the 30th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHSI ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Mobile, AL, April, 2000-2010.

Crawley, E. F. and de Luis, J. 1987. "Use of Piezoelectric Actuators as Elements of Intelligent Structures," AIAA Journal, 5(10):1373-1385.

Larson and Vinson , 1993, "The Use of Piezoelectric Materials in Curved Beams and Rings," Adaptive Structures and Material Systems, ASME, 227-285.

Lekhnitsskii, S. G. 1981. Theory of Elasticity of an Anisotropic Body, Mir Publishers, Moscow.

Saravanos , 1997, "Mixed Laminated Theory and Finite Element for Smart Piezoelectric Composite Shell Structures," AIAA Journal, 35:1327-1333.

10.

Seeley, C. E. , Chattopadhyay, A. and Brei, D. 1996. "Development of a Piezoelectric C-block Actuator Using Hybrid Optimization Technique," AIAA Journal, 34(1):123-128.

11.

Timoshenko, S. P. and Goodier, J. N. 1970. Theory of Elasticity, International student Edition, McGraw-Hill Kogakusha, Ltd.

12.

Tzou and Ye , 1994, "Analysis of Laminated Piezoelastic Shell Systems with C' Piezoelectric Triangle Shell Elements," Adaptive Structures and Composite Materials: Analysis and Application, ASME, 113-124.

13.

Washington , 1996, "Smart Aperture Antennas," Smart Materials and Structures, 5:801-805.