Optimization of a Piezoelectric Bending Actuator for a Tactile Virtual Reality Display

The excitation of mechanoreceptors in the finger with different frequencies and intensities generates a tactile impression. For the experience of a complete surface many distributed sources are needed in the tactile display. For these local stimulations of the finger several piezoelectric bending actuators will be arranged in an array perpendicular to the skin. The challenge in the system design is to transfer high dynamic shear forces to the skin at required frequencies together with a compact display design. In order to estimate the dynamic behavior of the bending actuators a transfer matrix method model based on the Timoshenko beam theory is derived. Beside the outer geometric values, the layered structure of the actuator is included in the model. In addition the influence of the load on the actuator’s tip in lateral and in normal direction as well as on the rotational degree of freedom is taken into account. Using the analytical approach, a parametric study is carried out to find an optimized actuator design for the display. For the validation, the modeled beam is compared with experimental data.