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Experimental Determination of the Maximum Allowable Stresses for High-Power Piezoelectric Generators

H. Abramovich, E. Tsikchotsky, G. Klein

Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, Vol. 4, No. 3 (2013), pp. 131-136

DOI: 10.4416/JCST2013-00006

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Abstract

High mechanical loads and/or electric fields or a combination of both tractions may lead to significant changes in the properties and parameters of PZT ceramics owing to the ferro-elastic processes in ceramics, domain wall motion, switching domains and the restructuring of the domain structures. This study uses well-designed tests to investigate the various parameters of high-power multi-element piezoelectric generators made from PZT ceramic under long-term cyclic external mechanical loading and presents maximum allowable working mechanical stresses. It has been shown that a stress of 30 MPa can be considered as a safe-side stress level, while 50 MPa can be regarded as the highest applicable stress; above or near 50 MPa, the PZT properties are substantially reduced, yielding a less effective high-power generator.

Keywords

PZT, power generator, stress, cyclic loads, electrical resistance

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