Displacement amplification and electric characteristics of modified rectangular cymbal transducers using electroactive materials

Three typical electroactive materials were used as the drive elements for a cymbal transducer. The included materials were hard and soft lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramics and single crystal lead magnesium niobate–lead titanate (PMNT). Finite element analysis was used to calculate the displacement of the transducer under dc voltage. The displacement of the PMNT based cymbal transducer is much larger than that of the PZT based cymbal transducer. The electric performance of the cymbal transducers was also measured. The effects of material properties and the size of the metal caps on the displacement of the cymbal transducer are discussed.