Modeling and design optimization of butterfly type piezoelectric actuator

A study of a novel design miniature butterfly type piezoelectric actuator is proposed and analyzed in the paper. Actuator consists of butterfly type oscillator and two piezoceramic elements. Operating principle of the actuator is based on exciting electrodes of the piezoceramic elements using input voltage of the same frequency but different phases. Elliptic trajectory of the contact point movement is achieving when phases of the voltage differ by ?/2 on different electrodes. Numerical modelling and simulation of the piezoelectric actuator was performed using finite element method. Natural frequencies, modal shapes and actuator response to the different input voltage sets were analyzed. Optimization of actuator boundary conditions was carried out. Experimental prototype of the piezoelectric actuator was built and measurements of driven tip movements were performed. The results of numerical and experimental studies are discussed