Piezotensegritic structures for transducer applications

Piezoelectricity and tensegrity have been coupled into an electrically acti ve device. This concept, hereby known as piezotensegrity, can be used to se nse or actuate. A composite sensor has been tested using compression elemen ts stabilized with tensioning bands. The piezoelectric elements are arrange d on the face diagonals with perimeter tension bands. Experimental piezoele ctric response from this design was 1200 pC/N in air testing with peak hydr ostatic response of 700 pC/N. The good device sensitivity as compared to pr operties of the base piezoelectric material is attributed to the internal a rrangement of the piezoelectric elements and the tensioning system.