Evaluation of Mechanical Losses in Piezoelectric Plates using Genetic algorithm

Abstract Numerical methods are used for the characterization of piezoelectric ceramics. A procedure based on genetic algorithm is applied to find the physical coefficients and mechanical losses. The coefficients are estimated from a minimum scoring of cost function. Electric impedances are calculated from Mason's model including mechanical losses constant and dependent on frequency as a linear function. The results show that the electric impedance percentage error in the investigated interval of frequencies decreases when mechanical losses depending on frequency are inserted in the model. A more accurate characterization of the piezoelectric ceramics mechanical losses should be considered as frequency dependent.