Transverse piezoelectric mode composites: a new design approach for smart material applications

Transverse piezoelectric mode ceramic-polymer composites provide several advantages over conventional longitudinal mode composites. It has been shown, from both analytical and experimental results, the hydrostatic performance of 1 - 3 tubular and 2 - 2 plate piezocomposites can be significantly improved by utilizing the transverse piezoelectric effect. By varying the geometry of the piezoelectric ceramics and the configuration of constituent phases, the undesirable components of piezoelectric response of the composites can be eliminated. Moreover, the effective uniaxial and hydrostatic responses can be greatly enhanced by optimizing the physical properties of the constituent phases and the structures of the composites.