Driving Performance Analysis of a Novel Piezoelectric Actuator

The piezoelectric actuator is a well-known driving component for managing small displacements. This paper proposes a new type of novel arching piezoelectric actuator (APA) which demonstrates excellent displacement and force capabilities in response to input voltages and can be used in the precise positioning and structure shape control fields. The matrix of this kind of actuator is an arched aluminum beam with piezoelectric patches mounted on its top surfaces. An electromechanical model for the APA, based on laminated theory, was presented. The extension and shear actuation mechanisms of the piezoelectric layer adhered to the APA were investigated using finite element method on the basis of ANSYS® software. The former, corresponded to an aluminum matrix bonded with transversely polarized active piezoelectric surface layers, whereas, the latter, consisted of axially polarized piezoelectric wafers glued on top surfaces of the aluminum matrix. The analysis results indicated a strong dependence of the actuator stiffness and piezoelectric properties on the electromechanical loading conditions. And the finite element data approved that the shear actuation mechanism actuator presents several promising features over the conventional extension mechanism actuator. The study also identified and calculated the parameters of the actuators electromechanical model which are absolutely necessary for performing design optimization to achieve maximum energy transfer and minimum power requirements. Finally, the low frequency behavior of the actuator is electrically stimulated with a sinusoidal input waveform. And the approximative output displacements are produced.