We analyze active constrained layer damping (ACLD) of functionally graded (FG) shells under a thermal environment using vertically and obliquely reinforced 1–3 piezocomposites (PZCs) and investigate the performance of PZCs as materials for the constraining layer of the ACLD treatment. The shell’s deformations are analyzed by using a modified first-order shear deformation theory and the finite e...

Technological obstacles to the use of rotary-type swing arm actuators to actuate optical pickup modules in small-form-factor (SFF) disk drives stem from a hinge's skewed actuation, subsequently inducing off-axis aberrations and deteriorating optical quality. This work describes a dual-stage seesaw-swivel actuator for optical pickup actuation. A triple-layered bimorph bender made of piezoelectri...

In this study, a nonlinear sliding-mode controller is designed for force tracking of a piezoelectric-hydraulic pump (PHP)-based actuation system, which is developed to replace the current electro-hydraulic actuation systems for automatic transmission (AT) friction elements, such as band brakes or clutches. By utilizing the PHP, one can eliminate the various hydraulic components (oil pump, regul...

Title of dissertation: LEAD ZIRCONATE TITANATE THIN FILMS FOR PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATION AND SENSING OF MEMS RESONATORS Brett Harold Piekarski, Doctor of Philosophy, 2005 Dissertation directed by: Professor Donald DeVoe Department of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering Graduate Program This research is focused on examining the potential benefits and limitations of applying sol-gel lead zirco...

Mirrors of numerous shapes, including spherical and paraboloidal mirrors, have been employed for many different commercial and industrial uses, despite their tendencies to distort and warp images. When the object in consideration is planar and oriented normal to the optical axis of the mirror, the amount of distortion introduced by a paraboloidal mirror is less than the distortion introduced by...

This paper presents the fabrication and the testing of piezoelectric unimorph actuators with embedded piezoelectric sensors which are meant to be used for the actuation of the Micromechanical Flying Insect (MFI). First the fabrication process of a piezoelectric bending actuator comprising a standard unimorph and a rigid extension is described together with the advantages of adding such an exten...

In our previous work, we presented a novel technique for fabricating Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) chips in order to investigate structural and piezoelectric properties of Pulsed Laser Deposited (PLD) Lead Zirconium Titanate (Pb(Zr,Ti)O3) (PZT) thin films [1]. We accomplished the fabrication of the devices we presented last year and obtained fully functional PLD PZT membranes. In this ...

Recently, cellulose has been re-discovered as a smart material that can be used as sensor and actuator materials, which is termed electro-active paper (EAPap). This paper reports recent advances in paper actuators made with cellulose and hybrid materials such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes, conducting polymers and ionic liquids. Two distinct actuator principles in EAPap actuators are demonstr...

An important component of an atomic force microscope is a nanopositioner that moves the sample, relative to the probe, in a raster pattern. A typical AFM nanopositioner is a large, heavy flexure-guided mechanism machined from a solid block of steel or aluminum, with incorporated actuators and displacement sensors. The most widely used actuation technology for nanopositioning is the piezoelectri...

Thepresent paper discusses active vibration control of a cantilever beam subjected to random base excitation. The smart materials used are piezoelectric patches for both as sensor and actuator, and actuation based on the surface strains. Finite element model of the smart beam is obtained using Euler-Bernoulli formulation. Positive Position Feedback (PPF) controller is proposed for active dampin...