Effects of stress on material properties, intrinsic and extrinsic behavior, and electromechanical response of stress-biased actuators
"New actuator applications demand high displacement and load bearing capacity that can be fulfilled by stress-biased actuators, including Thunder™ (THin UNimorph Driver and sEnsoR). Thunder™ is a composite laminate actuator based on an elastic metal layer and a piezoelectric wafer bonded together with a thermoplastic material (LaRC-SI). On cooling from the processing temperature, the difference in thermal expansion between layers creates a unique dome structure with high internal stress. Thunder™ actuators were studied to provide insight into the fundamental effects of stress on the electromechanical behavior of these devices...This investigation resulted in a greater understanding of the general behavior of ferroelectric materials under the unique mechanical boundary conditions associated with these devices, and the balance between intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to the overall electromechanical response of the device"--Abstract, page iii.
Stress-biased actuators, Ceramic Materials
Missouri University of Science and Technology
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