Ceramic-metal composite actuator

The main objective of this work was to develop a new type of actuator. It consists of a piezoelectric ceramic disk or multilayer stack and two metal end plates with a crescent-shaped cavity on the inner surface. The plates are used as mechanical transformers for converting and amplifying the lateral displacement of the ceramic into a large axial motion in the plates. Both d/sub 31/ and d/sub 33/ contribute to the axial displacement. Sizable strains were obtained with both PZT-metal and PMN-metal actuators. Displacement amplification principle, fabrication, and measurement results are presented.<
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