Inkjet printing P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) actuators for large bending strains

Additive manufacturing of sensors and actuators together with structural materials and electronics will make it possible to fabricate innovative system designs that are overly laborious to realise with conventional methods. While printing of the structural materials and electronics are advancing fast, the additive manufacturing methods for...

Printing electrodes for P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) actuators using a consumer grade inkjet printer

To facilitate smart material transducer research and application, it is important to develop fabrication processes that are widely accessible and compatible with additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. This work addresses inkjet printing and material selection in the fabrication of bending cantilever actuators based on the P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE)...

Flexible, printed, Pb-free piezo-composites for haptic feedback systems

While most of the work on piezoelectric composites focuses on methods to reduce the dielectric constant of the composite (for better sensor and energy harvesting performance), for haptic feedback and actuator applications the opposite is desirable. We present here a study of the effect of adding a second ceramic phase (BaTiO3 nanoparticles)...

Frequency response of IPMC actuators: Physical characterization and identification for control

Ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators have promising applications in robotics and medicine in a not distance future, which will require a big knowledge in different fields, such as, manufacturing, material characterization and control theory. In this paper, frequency response of several IPMC actuators, cut from the same bulk IPMC sheet...

Experimental Investigation on Frequency Characteristics of Plasma Synthetic Jets

The performance of a two–electrode plasma synthetic jet actuator (PSJA) is investigated for a wide range of dimensionless actuation frequencies (f*) using high-speed phase-locked Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) measurements. The jet-induced velocity fields in the axisymmetric plane are measured during both...

Development of a fast shape memory alloy based actuator for morphing airfoils

The design of aerodynamic airfoils are optimized for certain conditions. For instance, the shape of the wings of fixed-wing aircrafts are designed and optimized for a certain flight condition (in terms of altitude, speed, aircraft weight, etc.). However, these flight conditions vary significantly during the flight. Currently, aircraft are...

Characterisation of plasma synthetic jet actuators in quiescent flow

An experimental characterisation study of a large-volume three-electrode plasma synthetic jet actuator (PSJA) is presented. A sequential discharge power supply system is used to activate the PSJA. Phase-locked planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) and time-resolved Schlieren imaging are used to characterise the evolution of the induced flow...

Electro-mechanical efficiency of plasma synthetic jet actuator driven by capacitive discharge

A simplified model is established to estimate the jet exit density variation of a plasma synthetic jet actuator (PSJA) driven by a capacitive arc discharge. This model, in conjunction with phase-locked planar particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) measurements, enables the calculation of jet mechanical energy for different operating conditions....

Understanding piezoelectric composite–based actuators with nonlinear and 90 domain walls effects

Piezoelectric materials possess nonlinear behavior when actuated in a large electric field and show a large deflection when embedded inside a composite laminate such as a LIghtweight Piezoelectric Composite Actuator. Linear and nonlinear COMSOL multi-physics finite element models were developed and validated using the actuation response of three...

Piezoelectric Composite Actuators: Modelling of the Static and Dynamic Behaviour

Smart actuators, made of smart materials, are becoming more attractive in many applications because smart materials are not subjected to wear and does not require lubrication during services. Piezoelectric materials are a group of the many attractive smart materials that are being investigated for many applications today. Piezoelectric materials...

Near field optical data storage

This thesis describes research done at Philips Research on near-field optical data storage systems with a solid immersion lens.

Actuator tests for a large deformable membrane mirror

In the design of a large adaptive deformable membrane mirror, variable reluctance actuators are used. These consist of a closed magnetic circuit in which a strong permanent magnet provides a static magnetic force on a ferromagnetic core which is suspended in a membrane. By applying a current through the coil which is situated around the magnet,...