A novel linear inertial piezoelectric actuator based on asymmetric clamping materials

Asymmetric inertial piezoelectric actuators are driven by the inertial impact difference between the forward and backward cycle. Typical ways to create inertial impact difference involve the application of asymmetric driving signals and clamping blocks with different dimensions. A new asymmetric inertial piezoelectric actuator using clamping blocks with asymmetric materials is proposed in this study. The block materials have different elastic modulus, which generate different inertial impact forces to drive the actuator. The relationship between the vibrator displacement and the elastic modulus difference of the clamping blocks are investigated by comparison of the FEM and theoretical results. A series of experiments are conducted to prove the feasibility of the proposed actuator. The actuator with steel-copper clamping materials achieves more stable working performance compared with other clamping materials, the minimum step displacement, repeatability parameter reaches 2.0 mu m, 0.566 mu m and 15.7 mu m, 4.805 mu m in non-resonant and resonant states under the signal of Vp-p = 15 V, respectively. The results show the proposed actuator works smoothly in both in non-resonant and resonant states, which provides a new reference for the application of inertial piezoelectric actuators. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.