Electro-dynamic analysis of stack actuators and active members integrated within truss structures

In this thesis, a method of predicting the steady state, dynamic, electromechanical behavior of stack actuators (both electrostrictive and piezoelectric) integrated within complex structures is developed and experimentally verified. This research was motivated by a need to accurately predict transmission force, velocity output, and power consumption for a wide range of applications both terrestrial and space based.

The relevant transduction equation / parameters are derived from basic principles. These results are experimentally verified with a PZT stack active member. The derivations are then extended to incorporate the effects of integrating the actuator within a host structure. Specifically, the equations needed to predict actuator output force, resulting velocity and drawn current are derived.

To implement and test these results in a structure, the equivalent host structure impedance must be determined. This is done experimentally for a complex truss structure representative of a small satellite. These results are then used to prepare theoretical predictions which compare well with experimentally measured output force.

Finally, the derivations are extended to the electrical behavior of active members integrated within truss structures. It is now possible to predict the electrical load imposed by the active member on the power supply system including the effects of coupling with the host structure dynamic boundary conditions. Two implications of this are considered.

First, the required power demands directly influence the design and sizing of amplifiers, applied voltage levels and power systems. Second, the dissipative power from actuation losses contributes directly towards raising the internal temperature of an operating stack actuator.