C-blocks are mid-range piezoelectric actuators that show promise for use in dynamic applications, such as noise and vibration control. This paper presents an analytical model of an individual C-block actuator, including the identification of the natural frequencies and the description of the amplitude response across the frequency spectrum. In addition, an experimental study with three case studies is presented investigating the accuracy of the model and the sensitivity of the overall dynamic performance to C-block design parameters. The experimental results showed a good match to the analytical model and outlined the trade-offs between displacement amplitude and bandwidth.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Topics:
Actuators, Modeling, Design, Displacement, Noise (Sound), Piezoelectric actuators, Tradeoffs, Vibration control
1.
August, J. A., and Joshi, S. P., 1996, “Preliminary Design of Smart Structure Fins for High-Speed Missiles,” Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, C. Robert Crowe, ed., Proc. SPIE 2721, pp. 58–65.
2.
Austin, F., Van Nostrand, W., Siclari, M., and Aidala, P., 1996, “Design and Performance Predictions of Smart Wing for Transonic Cruise,” Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, C. Robert Crowe, ed., Proc. SPIE 2721, pp. 17–25.
3.
Bamford, R., Kuo, C. P., Glaser, R., and Wada, B. K., 1995, “Long Stroke Precision PZT Actuator,” AIAA/ASME/ASCE/HAS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference—Collection of Technical Papers, AIAA, New York, pp. 3278–3284.
4.
Barsoum
R. G. S.
,
1997
, “
Active Materials and Adaptive Structures
,”
Smart Materials and Structures
, Vol.
6
, pp.
117
–
122
.
5.
Cook, R. D., and Young, W. C., 1985, Advanced Mechanics of Materials, Macmillan, New York.
6.
Culshaw, B., 1996, “Smart Structures Activities Worldwide,” Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Structures and Integrated Systems, I. Chopra, ed., Proc. SPIE 2717, pp. 2–17.
7.
Damjanovic
D.
, and
Newnham
R. E.
,
1992
, “
Electrostrictive and Piezoelectric Materials for Actuator Applications
,”
Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures
, Vol.
3
, No.
2
, pp.
190
–
208
.
8.
Fukama
A.
,
Yano
M.
,
Tokuda
H.
,
Ohki
M.
, and
Kizu
R.
,
1994
, “
Development of Piezo-electric Actuators and Sensors for Electronically Controlled Suspension
,”
International Journal of Vehicle Design
, Vol.
15
, pp.
348
–
357
.
9.
Haertling
G. H.
,
1994
, “
Ultra-high-displacement Actuator
,”
American Ceramic Society Bulletin
, Vol.
73
, No.
2
, pp.
93
–
96
.
10.
Hall
S. R.
, and
Prechtl
E. F.
,
1996
, “
Development of a Piezoelectric Servoflap for Helicopter Rotor Control
,”
Smart Materials and Structures
, Vol.
5
, pp.
26
–
34
.
11.
IEEE, 1988, IEEE Standard on Piezoelectricity, ANSI/IEEE Standard 176-1987, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York.
12.
Kudva, J., Jardine, P., Martin, C., and Appa, K., 1996, “Overview of the ARPA/WL ’smart Structures and Materials Development—Smart Wing’ Contract,” Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, C. Robert Crowe, ed., Proc. SPIE 2721, pp. 10–16.
13.
Kugel, V. D., Chandran, S., and Cross, L. E., 1997, “Comparative Analysis of Piezoelectric Bending-Mode Actuators,” Smart Structures and Materials 1997: Smart Materials Technologies, W. C. Simmons, I. A. Aksay, and D. R. Huston, eds., Proc SPIE 3040: 70–80.
14.
Larson, P. H., and Vinson, J. R., 1993, “On the Analysis of Adaptive Shell Structures Employing Piezoelectric Materials,” Adaptive Structures and Material Systems: AD-Vol. 35, G. P. Carman, E. Garcia, ed., ASME, New York, pp. 277–285.
15.
Martinez
D. R.
,
Hinnerichs
T. D.
, and
Redmond
J. M.
,
1996
, “
Vibration Control for Precision Manufacturing Using Piezoelectric Actuators
,”
Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures
, Vol.
7
, pp.
182
–
191
.
16.
Miura, K., Sakamaki, M., Ono, Y., and Suzuki, K., 1992, “A New Concept of Actuator With Large Displacements,” Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Adaptive Structures, B. K. Wada, M. Natori, and E. Breitbach, eds., Technomic, Lancaster, PA, pp. 194–203.
17.
Meirovitch, L., 1967, Analytical Methods in Vibration, Macmillan, New York.
18.
Moskalik, A. J., and Brei, D., 1996, “Force-Deflection Behavior of Individual Unimorph Piezoceramic C-Block Actuators,” Proceedings of the ASME Aerospace Division, AD-Vol. 52, J. C. I. Chang, J. Coulter, D. Brei, D. Martinez, W. Ng, and P. P. Friedman, eds., ASME, New York, pp. 679–687.
19.
Near, C. D., 1996, “Piezoelectric Actuator Technology,” Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Structures and Integrated Systems, I. Chopra, ed., Proc. SPIE 2717, pp. 246–258.
20.
Onitsuka
K.
,
Dogan
A.
,
Tressler
J. F.
,
Xu
Q.
,
Yoshikawa
S.
, and
Newnham
R. E.
,
1995
, “
Metal-Ceramic Composite Transducer, the ‘Moonie’
,”
Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures
, Vol.
6
, pp.
447
–
455
.
21.
Paine, J. S. N., and Chaudhry, Z., 1996, “The Impact of Amplification on Efficiency and Energy Density of Induced Strain Actuators,” Proceedings of the ASME Aerospace Division, AD-Vol. 52, J. C. I. Chang, J. Coulter, D. Brei, D. Martinez, W. Ng, and P. P. Friedman, eds., ASME, New York, pp. 511–516.
22.
Qatu
M. S.
,
1993
, “
Theories and Analyses of Thin and Moderately Thick Laminated Composite Curved Beams
,”
International Journal of Solids and Structures
, Vol.
30
, No.
20
, pp.
2743
–
2756
.
23.
Rojas, J., Liang, C., and Geng, Z. J., 1996, “Experimental Investigation of Active Machine Tool Vibration Control,” Smart Materials and Structures 1996: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, C. R. Crowe, ed., Proc. SPIE 2721, pp. 373–384.
24.
Samak, D. K., and Chopra, I., 1993, “A Feasibility Study to Build a Smart Rotor: Trailing Edge Flap Actuation,” Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Structures and Intelligent Systems, N. W. Hagood and G. J. Knowles, eds., Proc. SPIE 1917, pp. 225–237.
25.
Samak
D. K.
, and
Chopra
I.
,
1996
, “
Design of High Force, High Displacement Actuators for Helicopter Rotors
,”
Smart Materials and Structures
, Vol.
5
, pp.
58
–
87
.
26.
Sugawara
Y.
,
Onitsuka
K.
,
Yoshikawa
S.
,
Xu
Q. C.
,
Newnham
R. E.
, and
Uchino
K.
,
1992
, “
Metal-Ceramic Composite Actuators
,”
Journal of the American Ceramic Society
, Vol.
75
, pp.
996
–
998
.
27.
Sumali, H., and Cudney, H., 1994, “An Active Engine Mount with a Piezoelectric Stacked Actuator,” Proceedings of the 35th SDM Conference, pp. 1233–1241, AIAA, New York.
28.
Thirupathi, S. R., and Naganathan, N. G., 1992, “Use of Piezoceramic Actuation for Automotive Active Suspension Mechanisms: A Feasibility Study,” Robotics, Spatial Mechanisms, and Mechanical Systems, pp. 233–241, ASME, New York.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 1999
 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.