Nonlinearity analysis of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers based on couple stress theory

This paper studies the static deformation behavior of a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer （PMUT） actuated by a strong external electric field. The transducer membrane consists of a piezoelectric layer, a passive layer and two electrode layers. The nonlinearities of the piezoelectric layer caused by electrostriction under a strong electric field are analyzed. Because the thickness of the transducer membrane is on the microscale, the size dependence of the deformation behavior is evaluated using the couple stress theory. The results show that the optimal ratio of the top electrode diameter and the membrane diameter is around 0.674. It is also found that this optimal value does not depend on any other parameters if the thicknesses of the two electrodes are negligible compared with those of the piezo- electric and passive layers. In addition, the nonlinearities of the piezoelectric layer will become stronger along with the increase of the electric field, which means that softening of the membrane stiffness occurs when a strong external electric field is applied. Meanwhile, the optimal thickness ratio for the passive layer and the piezoelectric layer is not equal to 1.0 which is usually adopted by previous researchers. Because there exists size dependence of membrane deforma-tion, the optimal value of this thickness ratio needs to be greater than 1.0 on the microscale.

Complex variable approach in studying modified polarization saturation model in two-dimensional semipermeable piezoelectric media

A modified polarization saturation model is proposed and addressed math- ematically using a complex variable approach in two-dimensional （2D） semipermeable piezoelectric media. In this model, an existing polarization saturation （PS） model in 2D piezoelectric media is modified by considering a linearly varying saturated normal electric displacement load in place of a constant normal electric displacement load, applied on a saturated electric zone. A centre cracked infinite 2D piezoelectric domain subject to an arbitrary poling direction and in-plane electromechanical loadings is considered for the analytical and numerical studies. Here, the problem is mathematically modeled as a non-homogeneous Riemann-Hilbert problem in terms of unknown complex potential functions representing electric displacement and stress components. Having solved the Hilbert problem, the solutions to the saturated zone length, the crack opening displace- ment （COD）, the crack opening potential （COP）, and the local stress intensity factors （SIFs） are obtained in explicit forms. A numerical study is also presented for the proposed modified model, showing the effects of the saturation condition on the applied electrical loading, the saturation zone length, and the COP. The results of fracture parameters obtained from the proposed model are compared with the existing PS model subject to electrical loading, crack face conditions, and polarization angles.

Effect of imperfect bonding on the dynamic response of a pre-stressed sandwich plate-strip with elastic layers and a piezoelectric core

In this paper,we consider the dynamic response of a pre-stressed sandwich plate-strip with a piezoelectric core and elastic layers under the action of a time-harmonic force resting on a rigid foundation.The investigation is carried out within the framework of the piecewise homogeneous body model by utilizing the exact equations of motion and relations of the linear theory of electro-elasticity.It is assumed that there is a shear-spring-type imperfect contact between the layers,but a complete contact between the plate-strip and the rigid foundation.A mathematical model of the problem is constructed,and the governing equations of motion are solved by employing the finite element method（FEM）.Numerical results illustrating the influence of a change in the value of the shear-spring parameter on the dynamic response of the plate-strip are then presented.