Formulation of a simple distributed-parameter model of multilayer piezoelectric actuators

Abstract

A multilayer piezoelectric actuator is a promising linear vibrator. In this article, a simple distributed-parameter analytical model of piezoelectric actuator, which can model vibration characteristics of piezoelectric actuator–based applications, is formulated. Based on the physical analysis of piezoelectric actuator, a simplification is proposed, justified and applied to fundamentals of thickness-extension-mode piezoelectricity. This simplification subtly enables piezoelectric actuator to be effectively modelled as a whole and allows for a formulation of a simple analytical model. Compared with other modelling methods in the literature, the proposed model with a small number of easily accessible parameters is easy to handle and extend with little compromised accuracy. The effectiveness of the proposed model has been validated by a three-dimensional finite element analysis model of piezoelectric actuator developed in commercial software ANSYS.