Bending behavior of functionally gradient materials

In the last years the suitability of Functionally Gradient Materials (FGM) for monolithic bending actuators was shown. However, there is a lack of det ailed models for the bending behavior of FGM, Recently we have developed a analytical model for the calculation of the bending behavior of FGM with an arbitrary gradient of piezoelectric properties. From the modeling it seems to be possible to build bending actuators with strongly reduced or vanishi ng internal mechanical stress by using FGM. Here we want to verify some of the modeling results experimentally. Based on BaTiO3-ceramics different mod el structures were prepared. The investigation of the bending behavior of t hese model structures supports the result of the modeling.