PRINCIPLES OF VIBRATION AND

MODAL ANALYSIS
UNIT -7

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 PIEZO ELECTRIC MATERIALS
 In 1880, Jacques and Pierre Curie discovered an unusual characteristic of certain
crystalline minerals: when subjected to a mechanical force, the crystals became
electrically polarized.
 Tension and compression generated voltages of opposite polarity, and in
proportion to the applied force. Subsequently, the converse of this relationship was
confirmed.
 If one of these voltage-generating crystals was exposed to an electric field it
lengthened or shortened according to the polarity of the field, and in proportion to
the strength of the field.
 These behaviors were labeled the piezoelectric effect and the inverse piezoelectric

effect, respectively, from the Greek word piezein, meaning to press or

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squeeze.
 Peizo electric effect
 The piezoelectric effect is based on the elastic deformation and orientation of

electric dipoles in a crystal structure when subjected to an electric field.

 One fundamental of this effect is the non-symmetrical structure of the crystal, in

which the centers of electrical charge do not coincide and therefore form dipoles.

 In the absence of external strain, the charge distribution within the crystal is

symmetric and the net electric dipole moment is zero.

 However, the application of an external mechanical force deforms and displaces the
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dipoles and the charge distribution is no longer symmetric.
In this way a charge is generated at the surface of the crystal: the direct
piezoelectric or sensory effect (see figure).

The direct piezoelectric or sensory effect 4

 Conversely, the application of a high electric field causes deformation
and forces the randomly oriented micro-dipoles into alignment.
 This alignment is called poling and leads to a constant volume strain
of the crystal: the inverse piezoelectric or actuator effect
 It is this property that is used for turning electrical signals into
mechanical movement or oscillations.

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 The advantages are:
 Low cost
 Low power requirement during static operation
 High stiffness
 Very high frequencies attainable, thus very fast actuation
 Compact and light
 High position accuracy
 High generation of force per unit of volume

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 The disadvantages are:
 Brittleness in tension

 Power consumption increases linearly with frequency and

actuator capacitance
 High driving voltage required

 Limited strain

 The possible health risks of lead in PZT piezoelectric ceramics.

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 Actuator ?
• An actuator is a type of motor that is responsible for moving or
controlling a mechanism or system. It is operated by a source of
energy, typically electric current, hydraulic fluid pressure, or
pneumatic pressure, and converts that energy into motion.

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Piezoelectric Actuators

Design of a PZT stack actuator

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• Advantages of Piezoelectric Actuators
1.Unlimited Resolution
 A piezoelectric actuator can produce extremely fine position changes

down to the subnanometer range.

 The smallest changes in operating voltage are converted into smooth

movements. Motion is not influenced by striction/friction or threshold

voltages.

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 Large Force Generation
 Piezoelectric actuators can generate a force of several
10,000 N. PI Ceramic offers units that can bear loads up to
several tons and position within a range of more than 100
μm with sub-nanometer resolution.

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 Rapid Response
 Piezoelectric actuators offer the fastest response time
available.
 Microsecond time constants and acceleration rates of more
than 10,000 g’s can be obtained.

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 No Magnetic Fields

 Piezoelectric actuators are especially well-suited for

applications where magnetic fields cannot be tolerated. For

extreme requirements, PI Ceramic is able to deliver assemblies

which have no measurable remnant magnetism.

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 Low Power Consumption

 The piezoelectric effect directly converts electrical energy into

motion, absorbing electrical energy during movement only.

 Static operation, even holding heavy loads, does not consume

power.

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Tube design

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 No Wear and Tear

 A piezoelectric actuator has neither gears nor rotating shafts.

 Its displacement is based on pure solid-state effects and exhibits no

wear and tear.

 PI Ceramic has conducted endurance tests on actuators in which no

change in performance was observed after several billion cycles.

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 Vacuum and Clean-Room Compatible

 Piezoelectric actuators employ ceramic elements that do not

need any lubricants and exhibit no wear or abrasion.

 This makes them clean-room compatible and ideally suited

for ultra-high-vacuum applications.

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 Operation at Cryogenic Temperatures

 The piezoelectric effect is based on electric fields and functions down

to almost zero kelvin, albeit at reduced specifications.

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