Vibration stress and temperature dependence of piezoelectric resonators with lead-zirconate-titanate ceramics

It has been shown that the temperature of a piezoelectric ceramic resonator increases, and its electromechanical characteristics vary, when the resona tor is continuously driven at a high level of vibration stress in a resonan t mode. The effects of temperature and vibration stress on specific electro mechanical characteristics of typical piezoelectric ceramics were separated using two measurement methods: the continuous-voltage-wave drive method, w hich results in increased temperature, and the hurst-voltage-wave drive met hod, which does not. The elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric constants w ere found to be sensitive to temperature but not to vibration stress. The m echanical loss factor, however, was found to be a function of both temperat ure and vibration stress. (C) 2000 Scripta Technica.