Design optimization of piezoelectric composite transducer using finite element method

The effect of size on the performance of the cymbal transducer was investigated by using experimental and computational methods. Cymbal transducers were fabricated with steel endcap materials and piezoelectric ceramic, PZT-5A, as driving elements. Displacement and generative force characteristics of the transducers were tested by using LVDT sensor. Identical experimental conditions were simulated on the computer by using ANSYS code program. There is a good agreement between experimental and calculated results. Displacement increases linearly with increasing transducer size. However, generative force does not show a linear behavior with the transducer size and decreases down below a critical size.