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Nonlinear Dynamics Of Piezoelectric High Displacement Actuators In Cantilever Mode, Timothy Usher, Alec Sim

Physics Faculty Publications

Experimental results of the nonlinear dynamic response of a piezoelectric high displacement actuator known as thin-layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor were compared to a theoretical model, which utilizes the multiple scales method to connect the effective spring constant to higher-order stiffness constants c4 of the piezoelectric layer. This type of actuator has prestress gradients resulting from the manufacturing process that have been reported to play an important role in enhanced actuation. A value of c₄=−4.7x10²⁰ N/m² was obtained for the higher-order lead zirconate titanate (PZT) stiffness coefficient, which is higher than other published results …