Fundamental behavior of piezoceramic sheet actuators

This paper investigates the behavior of piezoceramic sheet actuators under different types of excitation and mechanical loading. The research especial ly focuses on the application of these actuators to the development of smar t rotor systems. The free strain response of the actuators under DC excitat ion is experimentally investigated along with the associated drift of the s train over time. Effect of tensile stress on the free strain response is ex amined. The magnitude and phase of the free strain response of the actuator under different excitation voltages and frequencies is measured, and a phe nomenological model to predict this behavior is developed and validated. Th e power consumption of the free actuator and a pair of actuators surface bo nded to a host structure is calculated by the impedance method and validate d by measurement. Additionally, depoling of the actuators is discussed, alo ng with the feasibility of recovering performance by repoling in the event of accidental depoling.