Experimental study of stress and thermoelastic effects in planar stress-compensated SAW quartz cuts

Two experimental tests are reported. The first are mechanical tests at constant temperature, involving two- or four-point diametral compression of a circular quartz substrate supporting a SAW (surface acoustic wave) delay line used in an oscillator. The second test involves investigation of dynamical temperature effects. The same circular delay line is subjected to temperature cycles, the external heat flux coming through two-point diametral fixations. Frequency-temperature cycles are measured and used to characterize the sensitivity of the device to dynamical thermal effects. The experimental results indicate that SAW devices present intrinsic compensation to mechanical and thermal perturbation