PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR GENERATING TORSIONAL DISPLACEMENT FROM PIEZOELECTRIC D(15) SHEAR RESPONSE

A torsional actuator generating angular displacement from piezoelectri c shear strain was developed. The actuator is a tube consisting of an even number of segments poled along the length, which are adhesively b onded together, and the joints act as electrodes to apply the driving voltage. The experimental data measured on the prototype actuator: (i) prove the proposed concept of the torsional actuator, (ii) show that the actuator functions well under the torque lend, and (iii) demonstra te that it has superior characteristics compared to previously reporte d designs of torsional actuators. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physi cs. [S0003-6951(98)02620-5].