Piezoelectric materials are widely used in compact actuators such as linear motors, rotary motors, and pumps. The deformation could lead to either tensile or compressive strains and stresses in the material depending upon the direction of the electric field, the preferred direction of polarization in the material, and how the material is connected to other adjacent structures.Ī piezoelectric shear-actuated beam Areas of Application Actuators and Sensors The inverse piezoelectric effect refers to a deformation of these materials that results from the application of an electric field. Engineered materials, such as lithium niobate and lead zirconate titanate (PZT), exhibit a more pronounced piezoelectric effect.Īn important feature to note about this phenomenon is that the process is reversible. Referred to as the direct piezoelectric effect, this phenomenon is observable in many naturally available crystalline materials, including quartz, Rochelle salt, and even human bone. This stress-dependent change in polarization manifests as a measurable potential difference across the material. The piezoelectric effect refers to a change in electric polarization that is produced in certain materials when they are subjected to mechanical stresses. Electromagnetics Electromechanical Effects Piezoelectricity What Is the Piezoelectric Effect?

Piezoelectric effect