Behaviors and performance evaluation of a lightweight piezo-composite curved actuator

The present study investigates the behavior and performance of the recently proposed LIPCA actuator. As such, a reliable finite element program that can predict the behavior of piezoelectric structures is developed based on fully-coupled formulations for piezo electric materials and three-dimensional eight-node incompatible elements. After verifying the proposed code, the actuation displacements of a LIPCA actuator are calculated and compared with experimental results, which were foundto be in goodagreement. Finally, a method for modeling the screw-fixed end condition used in the experimental apparatus is investigated along with effects of the curvature on the actuation displacement and fundamental frequency.