ABSTRACT
Piezoelectric elements as actuators have been extensively used to control struictures with a wide range of sizes. The effect of piezo-actuator thickness on the magnitude of deflection of a cantilever beam has been investigated experimentally and the results compared with a theoretical model. Results indicate that there exists a piezo-actuator thickness which maximises the cantilever deflection, and this optimal thickness is a function of the ratio of the Young’s modulus of the actuator and the cantilever. The significance for actuator design is discussed.
