Predictions of Static Displacements in 1-3 Piezocomposites

Abstract

Piezocomposites have demonstrated higher sensitivity and lower mechanical losses than single phase piezoelectric materials. As with any composite material, the properties and behavior of piezocomposites are highly dependent on the properties of the constituent materials and the interface between them. In this paper, the micromechanical behavior of 1-3 piezocomposites is investigated. An analytical model is developed for predicting the static displacement behavior of a single piezoelectric rod embedded in a matrix. In the model, the ceramic rod is treated as transversely isotropic since it has different piezoelectric coefficients in the longitudinal and transverse directions. It is proposed that presence of a thin interlayer or polymer coating around the ceramic rods can influence the longitudinal displacement of the rods and change the overall sensitivity. A composite cylinder model is adopted to incorporate the presence of an interlayer with varying properties. Theoretical predictions indicate that the introduction of a compliant interlayer greatly increases the outof-plane displacement of the rod and the sensitivity of the composite.

Physically Nonlinear Behavior of Piezoelectric Actuators Subject to High Electric Fields

“…1) used in underwater hydrophones, acoustic imaging and medical applications. Typically, the behavior of piezoelectric rods and 1-3 piezocomposites consisting of rods embedded in the matrix are studied using linear constitutive equations (Li and Sottos, 1995, 1996a,b, Sigmund et al, 1998. Recent papers by Tong (2001, 2002) extended the study to the physically nonlinear static formulation.…”

A Fully Coupled Constitutive Model for Electrostrictive Ceramic Materials

“…In the sensor role, electromechanical ceramics can detect minute displacements by converting mechanical work into electrical energy. Typically, these sensors are packaged in polymer composite plates and used in underwater hydrophone and medical applications (Li and Sottos, 1994). Collocated devices have also been developed that combine the sensor and actuator functions into a single piezoelectric element (Dosch, Inman and Garcia, 1992).…”