Effect of Matrix Properties on the Overall Piezoelectric Constants of Piezocomposite Transducers

Macro fiber composites, or MFCs, consist of PZT fibers with rectangular cross sections embedded into an epoxy matrix. MFCs usually possess orthotropic electromechanical properties and are used as thin and conformable actuators/sensors. This article focuses on the development of a homogenized model for the behavior of MFCs. The effective properties of MFCs with interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) are determined analytically, using the uniform field method, and numerically in terms of the electromechanical properties of the fibers and the epoxy matrix. Results are given for different material properties of the matrix.

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