A single crystal lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate multilayer-stacked cryogenic flextensional actuator

A "33" mode single crystal lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate flextensional actuator with large displacement, high load capability, and broad bandwidth was designed, prototyped, and evaluated at temperatures ranging from room temperature to cryogenic temperatures. Measuring 27.4 x 10 x 13.6 mm (height) overall and weighing 9.2 g, the actuator generates a 96.5 mu m displacement in the Z-direction at 170 V-rms. The level of displacement remained constant under compressive loads up to 5 kg force. The actuator maintains 66% of its room temperature displacement at -196 degrees C. The measured displacements matched well with those modeled using ANSYS finite element analysis. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4790142]