In this paper, we propose a new method to use cost-effective multi-sheet off-the-shelf piezoelectric material (e.g. PZT) as an actuator for micropumps. Instead of one customized single PZT sheet that is typically expensive, multiple commercially available PZT sheets are utilized to decrease the cost of fabrication. For this purpose, we have derived analytic equations for expressing the natural frequency and mode shape of the actuator. The FEM simulations are utilized to verify the analytic equations. Thanks to their high accuracy, we can utilize the derived analytic equations as fitness functions of genetic algorithm (GA) for the optimization purpose of PZT physical aspects. Our experimental measurement results show that the GA is capable of optimizing multiple physical parameters of the piezoelectric actuator. Moreover, one-way compliant microflaps are presented for the first time to act as one-way valves for a PZT micropump aided by our proposed multi-sheet PZT actuator. The flow rate of this configuration is compared with a single-sheet PZT actuator in order to demonstrate the effect of the optimized PZT actuators in the practical applications of micropumps.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.