Dynamic modeling and characteristic analysis of piezoelectric rudder actuator

In this note, dynamic equations of the piezoelectric rudder actuator are established using a numerical method, and the dynamic characteristics are analyzed. A simulation is performed using finite element software to verify the validity of the theory. The results show that an increase in axial force has significant amplification effects on the static displacement output of the bimorph and its rudder actuator, and the axial stiffness of the piezoelectric bimorph is evidently nonlinear against larger axial force. The response time of the rudder actuator is less affected by the axial force and remains in the order of milliseconds under the axial force of 0.85 times the buckling critical load.