Design optimization for metal-ceramic composite actuator, "moonie"

A piezoelectric ceramic-metal composite actuator has been developed to amplify the displacement of the piezoelectric ceramic. In this structure, the PZT ceramic is sandwiched between end caps with shallow cavities. This paper describes the design optimization of the flextensional transducer using finite element analysis (FEA). By using FEA, shape, material, and geometrical contributions to the displacement of the actuator were calculated. The effect of load on the displacement was also estimated. It was found that the displacement of the actuator increases with cavity diameter and depth, and that introducing a ring-shaped groove on the metal end caps of the actuator greatly enhances the displacement.