Design optimization of a piezoelctric fiber actuator with a natural curvature

Piezoelectric Fiber Composite with Interdigitated Electrodes (PFCIDE) was previously introduced as an alternative to monolithic wafers with conventional electrodes for applications of structural actuation. This paper is an investigation into the performance improvement of piezoelectric fiber composite actuators by optimizing the stacking sequence and changing the matrix material. This paper presents the numerical optimization of a piezoelectric fiber/piezoelectric matrix composite actuator with IDE (PFPMIDE). Various concepts from different backgrounds, including three-dimensional linear elastic and dielectric theories, have been incorporated into the present linear piezoelectric model. To see the structural responses of the actuator integrated with the PFPMIDE, three-dimensional finite element formulations were derived. Numerical analysis shows larger center displacement of the curved actuator with the PFPMIDE due to optimization of the piezoelectric fiber angles. This paper presents the concept of a curved actuator that occurs naturally via thermal residual stress during the curing process, as well as the optimization of the maximum curved actuator displacement, which is accomplished using the Davidon-Fletcher-Powell (DFP) method.