Int. j. eng. sci., Vol(3), No (7), July, 2014. pp.

52-59

TI Journals

ISSN:

International Journal of Engineering Sciences

2306-6474

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Copyright 2014. All rights reserved for TI Journals.

Modelling and Eigen frequency Analysis of Piezoelectric

Cantilever beam
Anshu Mli Gaur*
Department of Instrumentation (I.I.E), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India

Dinesh Singh Rana

Department of Instrumentation (I.I.E), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
*Corresponding author: gauranshu10@gmail.com

AR TIC LE INF O

AB STR AC T

Keywords:

This paper presents a modelling of cantilever beam as actuator. The model comprises of
piezoelectric material as intermediate layer with electrodes on upper and lower side of beam. The
developed modeled was investigated by finite element method using COMSOL software. The
behavior of piezoelectric actuator is analyzed through deflection analysis and eigen frequency
computation. Further a comparison has been made with various piezoelectric materials ideally
suitable for smart cantilever structure. An accurate and efficient model is perquisite for optimizing
the performance of piezoelectric actuator. It is concluded that, simulation results almost agree with
analytical predictions of eigen frequency. A micro actuator structure was designed and evaluated
with different piezoelectric materials to achieve a high displacement with low excitation voltage.

Eigen Frequency
Piezoelectric
Cantilever beam
Mode shapes
Boundary conditions
PVDF (Polyvinylidene difluoride)

1.

Introduction

Modelling of cantilever beam is prerequisite in design and fabrication for optimizing the performance of piezoelectric actuator.
Piezoelectric materials can be utilized as sensor as well as actuator [1]. The piezoelectric actuator modeled in single or multi morph
configurations. Piezoelectric polymers have flexibility and ability to fabricate in large sheets which makes these as potential materials for
sensor and actuator applications [2, 3]. A voltage applied to piezoelectric actuator causes the deflection of structure in one of the direction.
Piezoelectric actuator found application in major thrust arrears such as aircraft, aerospace, rotor blade, and aviation sectors [4, 5].
Modelling is an essential aspect in designing the new class of piezoelectric actuators. In literature it has been found that the difference
theory is applied effectively for investigating the response of piezoelectric actuator [6, 7, 8]. Analytically models of piezoelectric actuator
based on small host structures have also been investigated in past [9, 10, 11, 12]. Piezoelectric actuator suffers mainly from drift and large
hysteresis which degrades the performance. PVDF and PZT (Lead zirconium titanate) are ideally suitable for micro actuator due to simple
fabrication process involved for fabrication with these materials [13]. Finite element is one of the efficient methods that can be applied to
cantilever beams for structural and eigen frequency analysis. The finite element formulation has capability to deal with the materials having
dominant piezoelectric and electro elastic effect [14]. Differential equations are formed for each element of overall structure and optimum
solution is determined for the equation by applying the appropriate boundary conditions [15, 16]. Finite element provides the insight for
predicting the behavior of structure by varying the material properties so as to obtain optimal results in terms of minimum time and efforts
[17, 18, 19, 20]. The finite element method provides a viable means for the modelling and the numerical analysis of engineering structures.
This method has added advantage that it can be applied to wide area of engineering and technology to solve the complex problems. It is
necessary to apply the finite element method to evaluate the impact of mechanical stress and dynamic behavior in actuator structure [21,
22].
In this paper, the eigen frequency analysis of developed micro actuator was carried out. The performance was evaluated by investigating
the deflection pattern of cantilever beam together with resonance frequency analysis. The finite element method was applied using
COMSOL multiphysics structural and piezoelectric modules. The simulated results were compared with the analytical results. The present
study aims to achieve high displacement of micro actuator with small excitation voltage.

2.

Theoretical Considerations

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Modelling and Eigen frequency Analysis of Piezoelectric Cantilever beam

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (7), July, 2014.

Figure 1: Piezoelectric Cantilever beam

A cantilever beam is shown in figure 1 having one end fixed and other ends are free to vibrate. Beam generally may be considered as
continues system with mass distributed all along the beam. Equation of motion for beam is given by equation [23]

2
2 y ( x, t )
2 y ( x, t )
{
EI
(
x
)
}

m
(
x
)
f (t ) ( x L1)
x 2
x 2
x 2

...............(1)

Where
E = Youngs modulus of elasticity
I = moment of inertia of beam
y (x,t) = displacement of beam in y direction
x = distance from fixed end
m = mass per unit length
f(t) = force applied to system at distance L1 from fixed end
= material density
Now apply boundary condition to equation (1) as

dY ( x)
0
dx
d 2Y ( x )
d 3Y ( x)
At x 0,

0,
0
dx 2
dx3
At x 0, Y ( x) 0,

............... (2)
............... (3)

The equation (i) becomes

d 4Y ( x )
4Y ( x) 0
4
dx

nf

............... (4)

EI / AL

............... (5)

Where =1.875, 4.694, 7.855 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd modes

2m
EI

............... (6)

Where circular natural frequency is related to natural frequency by equation as

f nf

2
EI / AL4
2

............... (7)

Appearance of an electric potential across certain faces of a crystal when it is subjected to mechanical pressure is termed as piezoelectric
effect. Conversely, when an electric field is applied to one of the faces of the crystal it undergoes mechanical distortion is termed as
converse piezoelectric effect. These both effects can be effectively utilized for sensor and actuator applications. The electrical displacement
is related to the electrical field by the following equations [24]:
S = sET + dE,
............... (8)
D = TE + dT,
............... (9)

Anshu Mli Gaur *, Dinesh Singh Rana

54

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (7), July, 2014.

Where
S = strain (m),
sE = compliance of the material (m2/N),
T = stress (N/m2 ),
T = permittivity under constant stress (F/m),
E = electric field (V/m),
d = piezoelectric constant (m/V or C/N),
D = dielectric displacement (C/m2 ).
In order to evaluate the piezoelectric performance, the deformation of cantilever beam can be calculated by applying electric potential. The
d31 coefficient is calculated for deformed beam by using equation (8). Let be the deformation of beam when electric field is applied to
beam. For application of electric field, the electrodes are deposited on top and bottom of beam. The below equation represents the beam
deflection as

3
L2
d 31 2 V
2
t

............... (10)

,
Where
= deformation of beam tip,
t = thickness of beam,
d31 = piezoelectric constant,
L = length of beam,
V= applied voltage.

3.

Modelling

For modelling of cantilever beam as actuator structural mechanics and piezoelectric modules of COMSOL were selected. These modules
involve the studies based on eigen frequency, stationary, time dependent and customized analysis. Each study involves the formation of set
of equations by applying appropriate boundary conditions to the developed model. Table 1. Lists the properties of piezoelectric materials
selected for simulation.
Table 1: Properties of Piezoelectric material used in modelling

Material Name

Density (Kg/m3 )

Poisson's ratio

Youngs Modulus (Pa)

PZT 8
PZT 5H
PVDF 2800
PVDF 760

7600
7500
1780
1780

0.34
0.34
0.34
0.35

9.9e9
6.0e9
2.0e9
2.2e9

3.1 Modelling the Piezoelectric cantilever beam

(a)

(b)

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Modelling and Eigen frequency Analysis of Piezoelectric Cantilever beam

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (7), July, 2014.

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Figure 2: Mode shapes of Piezoelectric cantilever beam for PVDF 2800 for 300 (m) frequencies
(a) 19.219 (b) 75.418 (c) 119.850 (d) 249.960 (e) 333.394 (f) 438.110 kHz

The structural mechanics module was selected to perform the eigen frequency analysis. The parameters of cantilever beam were selected
and appropriate boundary conditions were applied. The developed model calculates the twelve eigen frequencies for different length of
beam. The mode shapes are shown in figure 2 for first six eigen frequencies. The developed model comprises of 13886 elements which
takes almost 24 seconds to solve with 62847 degree of freedoms. The frequencies were analytically calculated using equation (7). Table 2
shows the error between simulated and analytically calculated eigen frequencies.
Table 2: Comparison of Eigen frequencies between simulated and analytical results

Length (m)
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200

FEM modelling using comsol (kHz)

187.23574
46.64786
20.69372
11.63493
7.43103
5.15576
3.78437
2.89534
2.28652
1.85126
1.52945
1.28476

Analytical calculation (kHz)

181.57505
45.39376
20.17501
11.34844
7.263
5.04375
3.70561
2.83711
2.24167
1.81575
1.50062
1.26094

Error
5.66069
1.2541
0.51871
0.28649
0.16802
0.11201
0.07876
0.05823
0.04485
0.03551
0.02883
0.02382

Anshu Mli Gaur *, Dinesh Singh Rana

56

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (7), July, 2014.

3.2 Modelling of Piezoelectric micro actuator

Figure 3. (a) Deflection pattern of micro actuator (b) Potential Distribution in micro actuator

The complete piezoelectric actuator model was developed with piezoelectric beam embedded in between two electrodes. The deflection
pattern of developed actuator model is shown in figure 3 (a). The simulation involves the different piezoelectric material as intermediate
layer with aluminum electrodes on top and bottom sides. The whole structure was formed with one of the boundary fixed and other
boundaries were free to deflect. For deflection analysis voltage was applied on the electrodes with top electrode as reference and bottom act
as ground electrode. Figure 3 (b) shows the potential distribution along the length of micro actuator.

Results and discussions

3.0x10

2.5x10

2.0x10

1.5x10

f1(Hz)

(a)

PZT 8

f2(Hz)
f3(Hz)

Frequency (1/s)

f4(Hz)
f5(Hz)
f6(Hz)

1.0x106

5.0x10

0.0
200

400

600

800

1000

Length of beam (m)

2.5x106

(b)

f1(Hz)

PZT 5H

f2(Hz)
f3(Hz)

2.0x10

f4(Hz)

Frequency (1/s)

4.

f5(Hz)

1.5x10

f6(Hz)

1.0x106

5.0x105

0.0
200

400

600

Length of beam (m)

800

1000

Modelling and Eigen frequency Analysis of Piezoelectric Cantilever beam

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (7), July, 2014.

3x106

(c)

f1(Hz)

PVDF 2800

f2(Hz)
f3(Hz)
f4(Hz)

Frequency (1/s)

2x106

f5(Hz)
f6(Hz)

1x106

0
200

400

600

800

1000

Length of beam (m)

2.5x10

(d)

f1(Hz)

PVDF 760

f2(Hz)
f3(Hz)
f4(Hz)

2.0x10

Frequency (1/s)

57

f5(Hz)
f6(Hz)

1.5x106

1.0x10

5.0x10

0.0
200

400

600

800

1000

Length of beam (m)

Figure 4: Variation in Eigen frequency with respect to length of beam for
(a) PZT 8 (b) PZT 5H (c) PVDF 2800 (d) PVDF 760

The figure 4 shows the variation of eigen frequency with variation in length of beam. The first six eigen frequencies were obtained through
simulation and plotted for different piezoelectric materials i.e. PZT 8, PZT 5H, PVDF 2800 and PVDF 760. The length of beam was varied
up to 1000 um. The length cannot be varied further due to limited memory capacity of computing facility available for the simulation. It is
observed from the curves that PZT 8 and PVDF 2800 have highest first eigen frequencies in comparison to other two materials.

Anshu Mli Gaur *, Dinesh Singh Rana

58

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (7), July, 2014.

300
PVDF 2800
PZT 8
PZT 5H
Barium Titanate

(a)

Deflection (nm)

250

200

150

100

50

0
10

20

30

40

50

Applied Voltage (V)

800

(b)

10 volts
20 volts
30 volts

For PZT 5H

700

Deflection (nm)

600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Length of actuator (m)

Figure 5: (a) Deflection with variation in applied voltage (b) Deflection vs. length of actuator

The simulated deflection of piezoelectric actuator at different voltages in range of 10-50 volts is shown in Figure 5 (a). The simulation
results show the deflection for different piezoelectric materials for PVDF 2800, PZT 8, PZT 5H and Barium titan ate. It can be observed
from the curve that maximum deflection obtained for PZT 5H which was approximately 249.74 nm at 50 volts. This confirms the PZT 5H
as a potential piezoelectric material for development of micro actuator as compare to other piezoelectric materials. Figure 5(b) shows the
curve between length of micro actuator and deflection. It is observed from curve as the length increases so the deflection of micro actuator
also increases. At one particular point known as saturation point, further increase in length there is no appreciable increase in deflection.

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Modelling and Eigen frequency Analysis of Piezoelectric Cantilever beam

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (7), July, 2014.

5.

Conclusion

A complete piezoelectric and structural mechanics based model has been developed for cantilever beam and micro actuator in this research
work. A finite element analysis was performed to investigate the eigen frequency and deflection pattern of micro actuator. Several
simulations were carried out with developed model in COMSOL. The analytical results of eigen frequency were compared with results
obtained from model. There exist a good agreement between the simulation and analytical results. It was observed that maximum the
deflection; more energy conversion can take place from vibration energy to electrical energy or vice versa. Increase in the length of micro
actuator beyond the saturation point causes non linearity and introduces buckling problems in whole structure. This approach provides the
insight for embedding the piezoelectric cantilever beam structure in micro actuator and energy harvesting structure.

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