All piezoelectric actuators are of finite dimension. The effect of finite geometry on the electro‐elastic responses is of significance to the design of practical actuators. Electromechanical model is established for an interface electrode in a piezoelectric actuator with finite dimension. The methods of infinite series and Cauchy singular integral equation are employed to perform the electro‐elastic analysis. The accuracy of numerical calculation is analyzed and the suitability of the present methods is discussed. Parametric studies on the electro‐elastic intensity factors yield three conclusions. (a) A central electrode rather than an off‐center one can help to enhance the structural reliability. (b) For an actuator with central electrode, it is better to make the interface twice as long as the electrode. For an actuator with periodical interface electrodes, the optimal allocation of electrodes is to make the space identical to the electrode length. (c) The thickness of the piezoelectric layer should be at least a quarter of the electrode length.
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