Design and actuating performance of novel arching piezoelectric actuator

A novel arching PZT actuator (APA) is proposed, which consists of an arching metal pedestal and a bimorph PZT patch bonded on the top surface of the pedestal. Two APAs with different pedestal feet heights are designed and fabricated for comparative tests. The free deformation outputs of APA are measured by laser sensor under different static driving voltages. Test results show that the APA enables to output larger deformation than the PZT patch with arching configuration and the deformation is in proportion to the height of the pedestal feet. The relationship between driving voltage and moment output of APA in blocked state is derived following the combined beam theory. The frequency responses of blocked APA are measured under different driving voltages in the frequency range from 0 to 2000 Hz.