Analysis of the actuating effects of triple-layer piezoelectric cantilevers considering electromechanical coupling correction

Abstract

A dynamic analytical model is developed to predict the performance of a triple-layer piezoelectric cantilever as actuators in relation to materials with large piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling (EMC) coefficients under axial stress and plane strain conditions. The dynamic electromechanical behavior of a symmetrical triple-layer piezoelectric cantilever (STLPC) actuator is investigated. The analytical model of STLPC based on electromechanical coupling correction coefficient (EMCC) is established in one-dimensional (1D) form and applied to 1D and 2D deformations. Furthermore, the theoretical analysis of the EMCC model is critically evaluated and compared with the simulations using a finite element method (FEM). Results show that the EMCC model can be accurately applied to analyze the actuation performance of STLPC. Analyzed results show that the proposed model is accurately applied to large and small piezoelectric coupling conditions. The piezoelectric cantilever with large piezoelectric and EMC coefficients can be accurately analyzed by the proposed model accounted for small EMC condition in a traditional model. Design optimization based on actuators is also discussed. Optimal thickness ratios between elastic and piezoelectric layers are effectively calculated and obtained.