Abstract
Piezoelectricity and tensegrity have been coupled into an electrically active device. This concept, hereby known as piezotensegrity, can be used to sense or actuate. A composite sensor has been tested using compression elements stabilized with tensioning bands. The piezoelectric elements are arranged on the face diagonals with perimeter tension bands. Experimental piezoelectric response from this design was 1200 pC/N in air testing with peak hydrostatic response of 700 pC/N. The good device sensitivity as compared to properties of the base piezoelectric material is attributed to the internal arrangement of the piezoelectric elements and the tensioning system.
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Received: 28 April 1999 / Reviewed and accepted: 6 August 1999
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Carlson, W., Williams, D. & Newnham, R. Piezotensegritic structures for transducer applications. Mat Res Innovat 3, 175–178 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100190050145
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100190050145