This paper presents the influence of nonlinear terms of a previously proposed constitutive piezoelectric equation on the dynamics of a cantilever aluminium beam with a piezoelectric unimorph PZT (MIDE QP16N) attached to it. The system is subjected to different levels of base acceleration with the intention to evidence the limits of the linear model. To carry out the analysis, a one-dimensional ...

A design optimization based on genetic algorithms for increasing power output performance of MEMS piezoelectric cantilevered energy harvesters has been performed. By employing genetic algorithms, the piezoelectric energy scavenging system with optimized shape and lateral geometries of a unimorph cantilever beam and a proof mass is simulated to achieve a power response improvement of ~1.8× in co...

In this paper, a piezoelectrically actuated four-bar mechanism with two flexible links is proposed to be used in a micromechanical flying insect robot wing thorax for stroke amplification. PZT-5H and PZN-PT based unimorph actuators are utilized at the input link of the four-bar for a compact and light weight thorax transmission mechanism. The kinematics and dynamics of the proposed wing structu...

THUNDERTM (thin-layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor) represents a new class of piezoceramicbased actuators capable of generating significant displacements and forces in response to input voltages. The performance capabilities of THUNDERTM actuators are due to the component materials and process used in their construction. A typical THUNDERTM actuator is composed of metallic...

This paper analyzes soft actuators realized as unimorph cantilever beams, in which the active layer can have two different morphologies, i.e., either an extruded film or aligned electrospun nanofiber mat of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene). Six are fabricated, with layers varying thicknesses and to study electrostrictive effect polymer evaluate stiffening prop...

A unimorph piezoelectric cantilever equipped with an Acoustic Black Hole (ABH) termination is designed for broadband energy harvesting. The ABH termination, its tapered region, induces a focusing of the flexural vibrations which can be used to increase efficiency harvesting device. modal-based analytical model presented, providing explicit form electro-mechanical coupling each beam eigenmode. C...