Analysis and optimization of trimorph ring transducers

The Kirchoff–Love plate theory and electroelasticity theory are combined to simulate the dynamic behaviors of the trimorph ring transducers under different boundary conditions. The transducer consists of an isotropic elastic ring laminated between two identical piezoelectric rings. Their electric current response, resonant frequencies, antiresonant frequencies and electromechanical coupling coefficients (EMCCs) are theoretically formulated and studied by numerical simulation. Also, the resonant frequencies and their corresponding mode shape are simulated by the finite element modelling to verify the theoretical results. Finally, to obtain the maximum energy conversion efficiency, the dynamic EMCC is optimized by varying the proportion of piezoelectric and elastic parts. It is shown that the dynamic EMCC depends on geometric thickness and radii ratios. Optimum settings for a particular transducer to reach the maximum dynamic EMCC are found for different boundary conditions. The trimorph ring transducer for the fixed inner and free outer surfaces boundary condition has slightly lower resonant and anti-resonant frequencies, and larger EMCCs than that for the free inner and fixed outer surfaces boundary condition does.