Modeling, fabrication and analysis of a flexible PZT-polymer laminated composite cantilever beam in sensing and actuation modes

Exceptional properties of piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films and ceramics to convert mechanical forces into an electric field or vice versa make them appropriate in extensive applications in a vast array of areas including sensors and actuators. The purpose of this paper is to model, fabricate and analysis of a new designed flexible PZT-polymer laminated composite cantilever beam in both sensing and actuation modes. Under the assumption of the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, a five-layer flexible sandwiched PZT-polyimide composite which has three layers of polymer and two layers of PZT ceramic is modeled to find electromechanical coupling matrix that relates the external driving excitations to the beam response parameters, first. Then, some samples using tape-casting, thin golden electrode coating, poling process and epoxy binding are made. Fabricated PZT-polyimide five-layer composite beams are utilized in some actuation and sensing tests to verify the accuracy of the developed dynamical mathematical models. Comparing natural frequencies and frequency responses of developed mathematical models and fabricated sample shows a good agreement in both sensing and actuation modes.