In this paper, controlling the location of the tip of an L-shape beam under gravity field is investigated. The beam is covered with piezoelectric patches. The gravity filed moves the tip of beam downward and the actuators with induced voltage move the tip to the previous location. to optimize the best location and voltages for actuators, the particle swarm optimization algorithm code is develop...

In this paper, the Finite Element Method (FEM) is proposed for application to a real-time control system of connected piezoelectric actuators, assuming an actuator as finite elements, which are mainly used in the field of computational mechanics. The FEM is capable of expressing the state of an entire system by stiffness equations, and can cope flexibly with lack or disability of constituent el...

The coupling effects between the mechanical and electric properties of piezoelectric materials have drawn significant attention for their potential applications as sensors and actuators. In this investigation, two piezoelectric actuators are symmetrically surface bonded on a cross-ply composite laminate. Electric voltages with the same amplitude and opposite sign are applied to the two symmetri...

The need for precise micro/nano-positioning has arisen in many fields of research and technology. Piezoelectric stick-slip actuators are widely used where precise positioning over a wide range of motion is required. Controlling manipulators that utilize piezoelectric stick-slip actuators is not a trivial task, as these actuators have a discrete stepping nature, with a step size that is influenc...

The objective of this research was to analytically and experimentally study the capabilities of piezoelectric plate actuators for suppressing utter. Piezoelectric materials are characterized by their ability to produce voltage when subjected to a mechanical strain. The converse piezoelectric e ect can be utilized to actuate a structure by applying a voltage. For this investigation, a two-degree...

This in vivo study presents the preliminary results of the use of a novel piezoelectric actuator for orthopedic application. The innovative use of the converse piezoelectric effect to mechanically stimulate bone was achieved with polyvinylidene fluoride actuators implanted in osteotomy cuts in sheep femur and tibia. The biological response around the osteotomies was assessed through histology a...

This paper presents the development and initial results of a controller based on a novel rate-dependent hysteresis model. The controller has been developed for “Micron,” a microsurgical instrument designed to sense and actively cancel tremor and other undesired motion during vitreoretinal intervention. To accomplish this, Micron uses a three-degree-of-freedom parallel manipulator with piezoelec...