High-displacement piezoelectric actuator utilizing a meander-line geometry I. Experimental characterization

The compact linear-motion piezoelectric actuator developed has relatively large displacement capabilities. It is composed of a number of parallel bars of lead zirconium titanate (PZT) connected together in a meander-line configuration so that they are mechanically in series and electrically in parallel. The polarity of the adjacent bars is arranged so that if a given bar expands under the applied voltage, the adjacent bars contract. An electromechanical model of the actuator predicted and measurements verified that stiffeners added to the basic meander line geometry significantly increased the force output without affecting the displacement versus applied voltage relationship.