DESIGN MODEL FOR PIEZOHYDRAULIC ACTUATORS

This paper presents a physics-based, lumpedparameter model useful for design of so-called Piezohydraulic Actuators (PHAs). The model is an extension of that presented previously by the authors, and is well-suited to prediction of actuator mechanical performance under variation of basic actuator mechanical design parameters. The model accurately captures dynamics of mechanical components, including resonant phemomena, and is applicable to internal fluid motions at speeds well below sonic and for Reynolds numbers in the range up to 50,000. The paper describes the model’s formulation and presents several examples of interest in the design of one horsepower class piezohydraulic actuators.