Force-Deflection Behavior of Individual Unimorph Piezoceramic C-Block Actuators

Abstract Most piezoelectric actuators used in smart structure applications are either stiff stacks which produce high forces and small deflections, or compliant benders which produce large deflections and small forces. This leaves a mid-range gap in actuator performance in which many applications operate. A new class of solid state piezoceramic actuators, known as C-blocks, has been developed as a mid-range actuator. A C-block is a semicircular composite bender. It can be combined in series and/or parallel to increase actuator deflection and/or force. A simple analytical model for the steady-state force-deflection behavior of an individual unimorph piezoceramic C-block was derived and experimentally verified with two case studies. The results demonstrate that the stiffness of an individual C-block is six times more than that of a comparable straight bender.