A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation of Design Characteristics in a Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-Based Piezoelectric Accelerometer

Abstract

A theoretical and experimental study on the design-to-performance characteristics of a compression-mode Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-based piezoelectric accelerometer is presented. Using the metamodeling to approximate the relationship between the design variables and the performances, the constituent components were optimized so that the generated electric voltage, representing sensitivity, could be maximized at different set values of the resonant frequency (25–40 kHz). Four kinds of optimized designs were created and fabricated into the accelerometer modules for empirical validation. The accelerometer modules fabricated according to the optimized designs were highly reliable with a broad range of resonant frequency as well as sufficiently high values of charge sensitivity. The fixed (or mounted) resonant frequency was between 16.1–30.1 kHz based on the impedance measurement. The charge sensitivity decreased from 296.8 to 79.4 pC/g with an increase of the resonant frequency, showing an inverse relation with respect to the resonant frequency. The design-dependent behaviors of the sensitivity and resonant frequency were almost identical in both numerical analysis and experimental investigation. This work shows that the piezoelectric accelerometer can be selectively prepared with best outcomes according to the requirements for the sensitivity and resonant frequency, fundamentally associated with trade-off relation.

Piezoelectric voltage constant and sensitivity enhancements through phase boundary structure control of lead-free (K,Na)NbO3-based ceramics

“…Figs. 6 (a) and (b) shows the constituent components and piezoceramic rings fabricated according to the proposed design [25] and the compression-mode prototype accelerometer sensor assembled using them, respectively. The vibration test results obtained from the prepared sensors are shown in Fig.…”

“…This work demonstrates that a high-g polycrystalline lead-free KNN piezoceramic can be obtained through the phase boundary structure control, ultimately showing great potential for replacing PZT in piezoelectric sensing and energy harvesting applications. Figure 6 (a) Images of constituent sensor components (base, tail, electrode, mass, screw) and modi ed-KNN piezoceramic rings fabricated according to proposed design [25]. (b) A compression-mode accelerometer sensor prototype assembled using sensor components and piezocermic rings according to fabrication procedures (Fig.…”

“…To investigate the performance of the modi ed KNN ceramics in practical device applications, a piezoelectric accelerometer sensor prototype was fabricated based on a compression-mode design, in which the piezoelectric element was designed to work under compression [25]. The basic structure of the accelerometer sensor prototype is shown in Fig.…”

Lead-Free Piezoelectric Acceleration Sensor Built Using a (K,Na)NbO3 Bulk Ceramic Modified by Bi-Based Perovskites

“…The frequency response property of the assembled sensor prototypes was characterized using an impedance analyzer (SI 1260; Solartron Analytical, Farnborough, Hampshire, UK) and a vibration exciter (SE-9; SPEKTRA, Dresden, Germany). The experimental setup for the vibration test is presented in Figure 1 d. The sensing performance data of a PZT-based accelerometer were also used for comparison [ 36 ].…”

“…( c ) Numerically calculated results of resonant frequency f r of the four designs under free and fixed modes. Numerically analyzed results for PZT-based accelerometers [ 36 ] are also compared in ( b , c ).…”