Electromechanical properties of Rainbow devices

Abstract

A stress-biased, domed, electromechanical bender called a Rainbow was recently developed. Displacement characteristics for Rainbow devices based on piezoelectric PLZT compositions were studied in the frequency range far below the fundamental resonant mode frequency. Experimentally obtained field-induced displacements were compared with those predicted by a finite element model. The model underestimated the observed displacements. Low frequency relaxation of the displacements was observed experimentally.