Characteristics of Piezoelectric Ceramics at High Vibration Levels

Abstract

AbstractNew piezoelectric power devices -such as ultrasonic motors, piezoelectric actuators and piezoelectric transformers- have been studied intensively in recent years. The piezoelectric ceramics in these devices are often subjected to a high level of vibration, and the electromechanical characteristics of piezoelectric ceramics at high vibration levels vary when changes in vibration level are accompanied by changes in temperature. The effects of temperature and of vibration level on specific electromechanical characteristics of typical piezoelectric ceramics were therefore separated by using two measurement methods: the continuous-voltage-wave method, which results in an increased temperature; and the burst-voltage-wave method, which does not. The elastic, dielectric and piezoelectric constants were found to be sensitive to temperature but comparatively insensitive to vibration level. Mechanical loss, however, was found to be a function of both temperature and vibration level.