This paper deals with the bending of layered piezoelectric beams (multimorphs) subjected to arbitrary electrical and mechanical loading. Weinberg [1] obtaind a closed-form solution to this problem using Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and integrated equilibrium equations. In his analysis, Weinberg assumes that the electric field is constant through the thickness of the piezoelectric layers. This ap...

Energy harvesting is a process in which energy which would otherwise be wasted is captured, stored and then used to power a system. Devices having such capabilities enjoy an extended life particularly advantageous in systems with limited accessibility, such as biomedical implants and structure embedded micro and wireless sensors. A viable family of materials for this purpose is piezoelectric ma...

Abstract Caloric cooling is an attractive family of technologies owing to their environmental friendliness and potential for higher efficiency than present refrigeration systems. Cooling devices based on the electrocaloric (EC) effect specifically have added benefit being easily miniaturized, enabling applications in electronic thermal management, wearables localized cooling. A challenge prior ...

Abstract 2D lattices are widely popular in micro-architected metamaterial design as they easy to manufacture and provide lightweight multifunctional properties. The mechanical properties of such lattice structures predominantly an intrinsic geometric function the microstructural topology, which generally referred passive metamaterials since there is no possibility alter after manufacturing if a...

The search for life on other planetary bodies is driven by our quest to determine if Earth unique with respect harboring life. In order answer this question, instrumentation suitable sensitivity required measure biosignatures. addition accurate measurements in-situ instruments, specialized sample acquisition and handling hardware maximize the scientific information obtained from an acquired sam...

The manufacturing of systems at the mesoscale on order millimeters to centimeters is costly and challenging. To simplify development process, finite element method (FEM) can be used compare evaluate different design variations an early stage. This also allows for gaining a more precise understanding system's behavior. In robotic applications it torque that greatest interest as sufficiently high...

High energy electron (1.0±2.55 MeV) irradiation was used to modify the phase transitional behavior of poly(vinylidene ̄uoridetri ̄uoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) copolymers in an attempt to signi®cantly improve the electromechanical properties of the copolymers. It is found that the copolymers under a proper irradiation treatment exhibit very little room temperature polarization hysteresis and very ...

THUNDERTM (thin-layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor) represents a new class of piezoceramicbased actuators capable of generating significant displacements and forces in response to input voltages. The performance capabilities of THUNDERTM actuators are due to the component materials and process used in their construction. A typical THUNDERTM actuator is composed of metallic...