THUNDER ActuatorTHUNDER Actuator

Acknowledgments:Acknowledgments:

Kenneth UlibarriKenneth UlibarriAdalia CabanyogAdalia CabanyogAlec SimAlec SimChris KennedyChris KennedyTim UsherTim Usher

Funding Provided byFunding Provided byCalifornia State University, San BernardinoCalifornia State University, San Bernardino

&&National Aeronautic Space AdministrationNational Aeronautic Space Administration

Grant # 0051-0078Grant # 0051-0078

Gevale R. Ashford

Finite Element Modeling of Thin-layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor (THUNDER) actuators.

How are they How are they manufactured?manufactured?

• THUNDER actuators are manufactured by binding a thin sheet THUNDER actuators are manufactured by binding a thin sheet of piezoelectric ceramic under hydrostatic pressure between of piezoelectric ceramic under hydrostatic pressure between a metal substrate and an aluminum electrode at a 320a metal substrate and an aluminum electrode at a 320°° C. C.

• During the cooling process a difference in the coefficients of During the cooling process a difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the layers cause the actuator to thermal expansion between the layers cause the actuator to deform to a shallow dome shape.deform to a shallow dome shape.

• The fabrication of THUNDER actuators is completed by the The fabrication of THUNDER actuators is completed by the perpendicular poling of the ceramic to the metal interface.perpendicular poling of the ceramic to the metal interface.

Where did the idea Where did the idea originate?originate?

• RAINBOW (RAINBOW (RReduced educed aand nd IInternally nternally BBiased iased OOxide xide WWafer)afer)

• Displacement for RAINBOW actuators showed to be 10-Displacement for RAINBOW actuators showed to be 10-25% lower than THUNDER actuators.25% lower than THUNDER actuators.

• THUNDER actuators are very rugged in comparison.THUNDER actuators are very rugged in comparison.

• In addition standard commercial manufacturing In addition standard commercial manufacturing techniques have been developed for THUNDER techniques have been developed for THUNDER actuators.actuators.

• To date there has been no such manufacturing To date there has been no such manufacturing techniques developed for RAINBOW actuators.techniques developed for RAINBOW actuators.

Potential ApplicationsPotential Applications

• Engineers in the Aerospace industry will greatly benefit Engineers in the Aerospace industry will greatly benefit from the added technology that THUNDER actuators from the added technology that THUNDER actuators have to offer.have to offer.

– These actuators could potentially change the surface These actuators could potentially change the surface of aircraft wings while in flight. Improving on of aircraft wings while in flight. Improving on maneuvers such as takeoffs and landings.maneuvers such as takeoffs and landings.

• For NASA scientist further development of THUNDER For NASA scientist further development of THUNDER actuators may lead to improvements on the quality and actuators may lead to improvements on the quality and reliability of the data that their space exploration robots reliability of the data that their space exploration robots collect.collect.

– A computer could apply a voltage to the actuators A computer could apply a voltage to the actuators located on the wheels of a moon rover and insure located on the wheels of a moon rover and insure that its readings were not interrupted by any that its readings were not interrupted by any vibrations caused by debris on the planets surface.vibrations caused by debris on the planets surface.

Finite Element Modeling Finite Element Modeling TheoryTheory

• FEM consists of a computer model of a material or FEM consists of a computer model of a material or design that is loaded and analyzed for specific results.design that is loaded and analyzed for specific results.

• Mathematically, the structure to be analyzed is Mathematically, the structure to be analyzed is subdivided into a mesh of finite sized elements of subdivided into a mesh of finite sized elements of simple shape.simple shape.

• Within each element the variation of displacement is Within each element the variation of displacement is determined by simple polynomial shape functions and determined by simple polynomial shape functions and nodal displacement.nodal displacement.

• From this, the equations of equilibrium are assembled From this, the equations of equilibrium are assembled in a matrix form that can be easily programmed and in a matrix form that can be easily programmed and solved by a computer.solved by a computer.

Research GoalsResearch Goals

• To develop better mathematical and computer models To develop better mathematical and computer models for HDA’s.for HDA’s.

• To fabricate new and better actuators-via design To fabricate new and better actuators-via design templates as opposed to the crude trial and error templates as opposed to the crude trial and error method.method.

• To improve the performance of THUNDER actuators by To improve the performance of THUNDER actuators by improving their manufacturing process.improving their manufacturing process.

• We will also assist NASA research team in producing We will also assist NASA research team in producing more effective actuators with our data.more effective actuators with our data.

Experimental ProceduresExperimental Procedures

• Utilizing the ANSYS® modeling software, several Utilizing the ANSYS® modeling software, several computer models have been constructed.computer models have been constructed.

• These models have been constructed using input These models have been constructed using input variables directly from the command line as well as variables directly from the command line as well as from the toolbars via the GUI interface.from the toolbars via the GUI interface.

• The dimensions as well as the material properties of The dimensions as well as the material properties of each element being used in the construction of each each element being used in the construction of each model have been defined in order to emulate its model have been defined in order to emulate its physical counterpart.physical counterpart.

Experimental Procedures, Experimental Procedures, Cont.Cont.

• It will be our focus to compare the data obtained from It will be our focus to compare the data obtained from the models and laboratory experiments to data the models and laboratory experiments to data recorded in previously related experiments.recorded in previously related experiments.

• These comparisons will insure two things:These comparisons will insure two things:

– 1. Our experiments are on track and relevant to 1. Our experiments are on track and relevant to previously found data.previously found data.

– 2. Keep the focus of our experiments at exceeding 2. Keep the focus of our experiments at exceeding and improving on related NASA experimental and improving on related NASA experimental findings.findings.

ResultsResults

• Researchers have been diligently working on the NASA Researchers have been diligently working on the NASA project through out the summer and now continuing project through out the summer and now continuing during the fall quarter.during the fall quarter.

• After spending numerous hours in the laboratory After spending numerous hours in the laboratory working with the ANSYS® software researchers have working with the ANSYS® software researchers have gained substantial knowledge and experience in gained substantial knowledge and experience in constructing computer generated models.constructing computer generated models.

• We still have a notable amount of experience and We still have a notable amount of experience and knowledge to gain before we are to be considered knowledge to gain before we are to be considered leading experts in the field of computer modeling.leading experts in the field of computer modeling.

• Recently we have began construction of a computer Recently we have began construction of a computer modeled static mode actuator.modeled static mode actuator.

Results, Cont.Results, Cont.

• We have defined the dimensions to exactly represent We have defined the dimensions to exactly represent THUNDER model TH 8-R in every aspect.THUNDER model TH 8-R in every aspect.

• Currently we are testing the actuator under a range of Currently we are testing the actuator under a range of applied voltages to measure its displacement.applied voltages to measure its displacement.

• The next goal on the agenda for our research team will The next goal on the agenda for our research team will be to compare the data that is currently being recorded be to compare the data that is currently being recorded from our ANSYS® models to the data being recorded from our ANSYS® models to the data being recorded from our laboratory experiments.from our laboratory experiments.

• The comparisons of these results will give our research The comparisons of these results will give our research team a better understanding of these THUNDER team a better understanding of these THUNDER actuator’s maximum potential.actuator’s maximum potential.

1. The top layer (purple) is the aluminum electrode.2. The middle layer (teal) is the piezoelectric ceramic.3. The bottom layer (purple) is the metal (stainless steel) substrate.

Layer composition of THUNDER actuator before bonding occurs.

Layer composition of THUNDER actuator after bonding has occurred.

ANSYS DATA

0 [V] TO 100 [V]

0

0.00001

0.00002

0.00003

0.00004

0.00005

0.00006

0.00007

0.00008

0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105

Applied [v]

EACH DATA POINT REPRESENTS A NEW TEST AT A DIFFERENT APPLIED VOLTAGE

Dis

pla

cem

ent

[m]

Y Displacement

Linear (Y Displacement)

y = 7E-07x + 1E-14

R2 = 1

ANSYS DATA

0 [V] TO 150 [V]

0

0.00002

0.00004

0.00006

0.00008

0.0001

0.00012

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Applied [v]

EACH DATA POINT REPRESENTS A NEW TEST AT A DIFFERENT APPLIED VOLTAGE

Dis

pla

cmen

t [m

]

Y Displacement

Linear (Y Displacement)

y = 7E-07x + 1E-15

R2 = 1

ANSYS DATA

0 [V] TO 300 [V]

0

0.00005

0.0001

0.00015

0.0002

0.00025

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Applied [v]

EACH DATA POINT REPRESENTS A NEW TEST AT A DIFFERENT APPLIED VOLTAGE

Dis

pla

cem

ent

[m]

0 to 300

Linear (0 to 300)

y = 7E-07x + 4E-14

R2 = 1

ANSYS DATA

-200 [V] TO 0 [V]

0

0.00002

0.00004

0.00006

0.00008

0.0001

0.00012

0.00014

0.00016

-250 -200 -150 -100 -50 0

Applied [v]

EACH DATA POINT REPRESENTS A NEW TEST AT A DIFFERENT APPLIED VOLTAGE

Dis

pla

cmen

t [m

]

Y Displacement

Linear (Y Displacement)

y = -7E-07x + 3E-14

R2 = 1

ANSYS DATA

-100 [V] TO 0 [V]

0

0.00001

0.00002

0.00003

0.00004

0.00005

0.00006

0.00007

0.00008

-120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0

Applied [v]

EACH DATA POINT REPRESENTS A NEW TEST AT A DIFFERENT APPLIED VOLTAGE

Dis

pla

cmen

t [m

]

Y Displacement

Linear (Y Displacement)

y = -7E-07x + 8E-15

R2 = 1

Technology used in Technology used in researchresearch

• ANSYS® 6.0ANSYS® 6.0

– Finite Element Modeling ProgramFinite Element Modeling Program

• Hummingbird Exceed 7.1.1Hummingbird Exceed 7.1.1

– X Windows Emulator ProgramX Windows Emulator Program

• Solaris 5.8Solaris 5.8

– Unix Operating SystemUnix Operating System– Red Hat Linux 7.2, Windows XP OSRed Hat Linux 7.2, Windows XP OS

Related DocumentsRelated Documents

• A Feasibility Study To Control Airfoil Shape Using A Feasibility Study To Control Airfoil Shape Using THUNDER ActuatorsTHUNDER Actuators– Jennifer L. Pinkerton and Robert W. MosesJennifer L. Pinkerton and Robert W. Moses– National Aeronautic and Space AdministrationNational Aeronautic and Space Administration– Langley Research Center, Hampton, VirginiaLangley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia– November 1997November 1997

• Load Characterization of High Displacement Load Characterization of High Displacement Piezoelectric Actuators with Various End ConditionsPiezoelectric Actuators with Various End Conditions– James Mulling, Tim Usher, Brian Dessent, Jeremy Palmer, Paul James Mulling, Tim Usher, Brian Dessent, Jeremy Palmer, Paul

Franzon, Eddie Grant and Angus KingonFranzon, Eddie Grant and Angus Kingon– Materials Research Center, North Carolina State UniversityMaterials Research Center, North Carolina State University– May 2000May 2000

Related Documents, Cont.Related Documents, Cont.

• Validation of High Displacement Piezoelectric Actuator Validation of High Displacement Piezoelectric Actuator Finite Element ModelsFinite Element Models– Barmac K. TaleghaniBarmac K. Taleghani– U.S. Army Research LaboratoryU.S. Army Research Laboratory– Vehicle Technology DirectorateVehicle Technology Directorate– Langley Research Center, Hampton, VirginiaLangley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia– August 2000August 2000

• Modeling and Simulation of THUNDER Actuators Using Modeling and Simulation of THUNDER Actuators Using ANSYS Finite Element AnalysisANSYS Finite Element Analysis– Chris Kennedy, Tim Usher, James Mulling and Angus KingonChris Kennedy, Tim Usher, James Mulling and Angus Kingon– Fourth International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Fourth International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of

Microsystems, Head Island, South CarolinaMicrosystems, Head Island, South Carolina– March 2001March 2001