New cylindrical piezoelectric actuator based on traveling wave

A new excitation principle for the piezoelectric actuator of traveling wave type is proposed and analyzed in the paper. The symmetric and asymmetric traveling waves of longitudinal vibrations are generated on the upside area of the cylindrical actuator. Two electrode patterns are proposed for excitation of the actuator. Harmonic voltage with phase shifts of 2 pi/3 and pi/2 are used for achieving a traveling wave. Numerical modeling based on the finite element method was performed to analyze the oscillations of contact points of the actuator under different excitation schemes. Experimental measurements of the oscillation distribution on the surface of the cylinder have been done while different electrode patterns were used for excitation. Results of the numerical and experimental studies are discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.