Structure-property relationships of piezoelectric gradient transducers

Xiaoping Li

doi:10.17918/00010220

Large displacement and moderate loading capability that are unexpected in the conventional piezoelectric bimorph or unimorph benders can be achieved in some of the advanced, internal-stress-biased, piezoelectric gradient transducers. The understanding of the electromechanical behaviors of these new transducers is currently understood at a rudimental level and within narrow operation limits. In order to improve the transducer performance, achieve design optimization and explore new applications, a thorough understanding of the structure-property relationship of these advanced piezoelectric gradient transducers is essential. A model study of the static actuation behaviors of the PZT/brass plate unimorphs of various brass/PZT thickness ratios and shapes were first carried out. The effects of the gradient, shape/size and external loading to the static displacement of piezoelectric gradient transducers were investigated through a theoretical approach based on the linear piezoelectric/elastic plate theory. For the first time, the effect of transverse tensile stress on the electric-field-induced domain switching of the tetragonal PZT ceramics was systematically studied with the in-situ XRD technique. It was found that the transverse tensile stress could enhance 90°-domain switching of the PZT ceramics and result in a large piezoelectric d31 coefficient. This study illustrates the stress-enhancement mechanism of the unexpected large displacement generated by the advanced internal-stress-biased piezoelectric gradient transducers. The static displacement of the newly developed ceramic piezoelectric gradient transducers, the PZT/PZT and PZT/ZnO PrinDrex, were also characterized and analyzed. The effects of structure parameters including the thickness ratio and dome configurations were investigated. In addition to the static actuation study, the flextensional resonant responses of PZT/PZT bimorphs and PZT/brass plate unimorphs with various thicknesses and shapes were also examined. New ice/water sensor and viscosity sensor utilizing the flextensional resonant responses of the piezoelectric gradient transducers were designed and tested successfully.

Structure-property relationships of piezoelectric gradient transducers

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Structure-property relationships of piezoelectric gradient transducers

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