Actuating Performance Analysis of a New Smart Aggregate Using Piezoceramic Stack

Abstract

A new type of smart aggregate using piezoceramic stack (SAPS) was developed for improved output, as compared with a conventional smart aggregate with a single piezoceramic patch. Due to the better output, the proposed smart aggregate is preferred where the attenuating effect is strong. In this research, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) material in the form of discs was used due to its strong piezoelectric performance. For analysis, the proposed SAPS was simplified to a one-dimensional axial model to investigate its electromechanical and displacement output characteristics, and an experimental setup was designed to verify the simplified model. Moreover, the influence of the structural parameters, including the number of the PZT discs, the dimensions of the PZT disc, protective shell, and copper lids, and the elastic modulus of the epoxy on the electromechanical and displacement output performance of SAPSs, were numerically studied by using the one-dimensional axial model. The numerical analysis results indicate that the structural dimension of the PZT discs has a greater effect on the electromechanical performance of SAPSs than that of the protective shell and copper lids. Moreover, the results show that the number of the PZT discs and the outer diameter of the protective shell have a much greater influence on the displacement output of SAPSs than other parameters. The analysis results of SAPSs with different elastic moduli of the epoxy demonstrate that the SAPSs’ first resonance frequency, first electromechanical coupling factor, and displacement output change less than 1.79% when the epoxy’s elastic modulus changes from 1.28 GPa to 5.12 GPa, which indicates that the elastic modulus of the epoxy has a limited influence on the property of SAPSs, and it will be helpful for their fabrication. This study provides an approach to increasing the output of SAPS and also develops a method to design the structure of SAPSs.