High-displacement piezoelectric actuator utilizing a meander-line geometry I. Experimental characterization

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Piezoelectric actuators are crucial for precise motion control.
• Existing designs often face trade-offs between displacement and force.
• Lead zirconium titanate (PZT) is a common piezoelectric material.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a compact linear-motion piezoelectric actuator with large displacement capabilities.
• To investigate methods for enhancing the force output of such actuators.
• To analyze the electromechanical behavior of a novel meander-line PZT configuration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a piezoelectric actuator using parallel bars of lead zirconium titanate (PZT) in a meander-line configuration.
• Mechanical series and electrical parallel connection of PZT bars with alternating polarity.
• Development of an electromechanical model to predict actuator performance.
• Experimental verification of the model and the effect of added stiffeners.

Main Results:

• The developed actuator exhibits significant displacement capabilities.
• A meander-line configuration with alternating polarity was successfully implemented.
• Electromechanical modeling accurately predicted actuator behavior.
• Addition of stiffeners to the meander-line geometry substantially increased force output.
• Stiffeners did not negatively impact the displacement versus applied voltage relationship.

Conclusions:

• The novel meander-line piezoelectric actuator design offers a promising solution for applications requiring large linear motion.
• The integration of stiffeners provides an effective strategy to enhance force output without sacrificing displacement.
• This design represents an advancement in piezoelectric actuator technology, balancing key performance metrics.