Electromechanical analysis of a symmetric piezoelectric/elastic laminate structure: theory and experiment

The dynamic characteristics of a piezoelectric laminate cantilever structure treated as an actuator are analyzed by electroelasticity. General formulation of calculations for displacement sensitivity, electric current, electromechanical coupling coefficients, and results from parametric analyses are presented for axial expansion/contraction, transverse bending, and expansion/contraction-bending coupled motion. The frequency response of displacement and electrical current and the displacement sensitivity were experimentally measured. Close agreement between theoretical and experimental results confirms validity of the theory.