Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

Piezoceramic Tube
Introduction
This example involves a static 2D axisymmetric analysis of a piezoelectric actuator
using the Piezoelectric Devices physics interface. It models a radially polarized
piezoelectric tube, as described by S. Peelamedu and co-authors (Ref. 1). An
application area where radially polarized tubes are employed is in nozzles for fluid
control in inkjet printers.

Model Definition
GEOMETRY

The tube has a height of 0.62 mm and an inner and outer radius of 0.38 mm and
0.62 mm, respectively. It is represented in an axisymmetric geometry by a single
off-axis rectangle, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: The axisymmetric geometry.

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BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

The model studies two cases, distinguished by different boundary conditions. Case 1
represents the direct piezoelectric effect, and Case 2 represents the inverse
piezoelectric effect.
Case 1Direct Piezoelectric Effect:
Structural mechanics boundary conditionconstrain the bottom surface from
moving axially (in the z direction), but also add an internal fluid pressure of
0.1 MPa.
Electrostatics boundary conditionground the inner and outer surfaces.
Case 2Inverse Piezoelectric Effect:
Structural mechanics boundary conditionconstrain the bottom surface from
moving axially (in the z-direction).
Electrostatics boundary conditionapply a 1 V potential difference between the
tubes inner and outer surfaces.
MATERIAL ORIENTATION

COMSOLs material library data is entered in a form which assumes that the crystal
polarization is aligned with the global co-ordinate z axis. For the radially polarized case
treated in this model, the orientation must be rotated so that the material polarization
direction is aligned with the r direction (radially polarized). To do so, specify the
co-ordinate system in the Piezoelectric Material feature. By selecting the co-ordinate
system as the predefined zx-plane system, you rotate the material so that its z direction
is aligned with the r direction of the model, and the materials x direction is aligned
with the models z direction.
The piezoceramic material in this example (PZT-5H) is a transversely isotropic
material, which is a special class of orthotropic materials. Such a material has the same
properties in one plane (isotropic behavior) and different properties in the direction
normal to this plane. Thus you can use either the zx-plane material orientation or the
zy-plane material orientation; both give the same solution.

Results and Discussion

The image in Figure 2 shows the radial displacement due to the applied pressure in case
1. Figure 3 shows the corresponding induced electric potential. Both the potential and
radial displacement are shown along a cut line 300 m above the base of the tube in
Figure 4 and Figure 7.

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Figure 2: Deformed shape and radial displacement due to an internal pressure of 0.1 MPa
(case 1 the direct piezoelectric effect).

Figure 3: Induced electric potential within the deformed tube due to an internal pressure
of 0.1 MPa (case 1 the direct piezoelectric effect).

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Figure 4: Radial displacement as a function of r-co-ordinate at a height of 300 m above

the base of the tube. The results are for case 1the direct piezoelectric effect.

Figure 5: Electric potential as a function of r-co-ordinate at a height of 300 m above the

base of the tube. The results are for case 1the direct piezoelectric effect.

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Figure 6: Deformed shape and radial displacement of the piezoceramic-tube actuator due
to the radial electric field (Case 2Inverse Piezoelectric Effect).

Figure 7: Electric potential applied to the tube to induce the displacements shown in
Figure 6 (Case 2Inverse Piezoelectric Effect).

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Figure 8: Radial displacement as a function of r-co-ordinate at a height of 300 m above

the base of the tube. The results are for case 2the inverse piezoelectric effect.

Figure 9: Electric potential as a function of r-co-ordinate at a height of 300 m above the

base of the tube. The results are for case 2the inverse piezoelectric effect.

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Figure 6 shows the radial displacement resulting from the applied potential shown in
Figure 7. Once again the potential and radial displacement are shown along a cut line
300 m above the base of the tube in Figure 8 and Figure 9.
These results show good agreement with those from S. Peelamedu (Ref. 1).

Reference
1. S. M. Peelamedu, C. B. Kosaraju, R. V. Dukkipati and N. G. Naganathan,
Numerical Approach for Axisymmetric Piezoceramic Geometries towards Fluid
Control Applications, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part
I: Journal of Systems and Control Engineering, vol. 214, no. 2, pp. 87-97, 2000.

Model Library path: MEMS_Module/Piezoelectric_Devices/

piezoceramic_tube

Modeling Instructions
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.

2 Click the 2D axisymmetric button.
3 Click Next.
4 In the Add physics tree, select Structural Mechanics>Piezoelectric Devices (pzd).
5 Click Add Selected.
6 Click Next.
7 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies>Stationary.
8 Click Finish.
GEOMETRY 1

Create the tube by adding an off-axis rectangle in the axisymmetric geometry.

Rectangle 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Geometry 1 and choose
Rectangle.
2 In the Rectangle settings window, locate the Size section.

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3 In the Width edit field, type 240 [um].

4 In the Height edit field, type 620 [um].
5 Locate the Position section. In the r edit field, type 380 [um].
6 Click the Build All button.

Add a PZT 5H to the model.

MATERIALS

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Materials and choose Open
Material Browser.
2 In the Material Browser window, locate the Materials section.
3 In the tree, select Piezoelectric>Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT-5H).
4 Right-click and choose Add Material to Model from the menu.

Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT-5H)

Initially set up the physics settings to model the direct piezoelectric effect.
PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICES

Piezoelectric Material 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Piezoelectric Devices click Piezoelectric
Material 1.
2 In the Piezoelectric Material settings window, locate the Coordinate System Selection

section.
3 From the Coordinate system list, choose Material ZX-Plane System.

By selecting the material orientation as the zx-plane, you rotate the material so that
its z direction is aligned with the r direction of the model, and the material's x
direction is aligned with the model's z direction.
Ground both the inner and outer surfaces of the cylinder.

Ground 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Piezoelectric Devices and choose the

boundary condition Electrical>Ground.

2 Select Boundaries 1 and 4 only.

Add a pressure follower load to the inner surface of the cylinder.

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Boundary Load 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Piezoelectric Devices and choose the

boundary condition Structural>Boundary Load.

2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Boundary Load settings window, locate the Force section.
4 From the Load type list, choose Pressure.
5 In the p edit field, type 0.1[MPa].

Constrain the lower surface of the tube with a roller boundary condition.

Roller 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Piezoelectric Devices and choose the

boundary condition Structural>Roller.

2 Select Boundary 2 only.
MESH 1

Create a mapped mesh.

Mapped 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Mesh 1 and choose Mapped.
2 In the Mapped settings window, click Build All.
STUDY 1

In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.

RESULTS

The default plot groups show the displacement of the tube and the induced electric
potential. Adapt these for comparison with Ref. 1.

Displacement (pzd)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Displacement (pzd) and choose
Rename.
2 Go to the Rename 2D Plot Group dialog box and type Radial Displacement (pzd)

in the New name edit field.

3 Click OK.

Radial Displacement (pzd)

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Radial Displacement (pzd) node,

then click Surface 1.

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2 In the Surface settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of

the Expression section. From the menu, choose Piezoelectric Devices>Displacement

field (Material)>Displacement field, R component (u).
3 Click the Plot button.

Potential, 3D (pzd)
Create a cross section through the geometry to use for line plots of the electric
potential and displacement.

Data Sets
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Data Sets and choose Cut Line
2D.
2 In the Cut Line 2D settings window, locate the Line Data section.
3 In row Point 1, set R to 380[um] and Z to 300[um].
4 In row Point 2, set R to 620 [um]and Z to 300[um].

Visualize the cross section line.

5 Click the Plot button.

Add line plots of the radial displacement and the potential along the cross section.

1D Plot Group 3
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the 1D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Cut Line 2D 1.
4 Right-click Results>1D Plot Group 3 and choose Line Graph.
5 In the Line Graph settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner

of the y-Axis Data section. From the menu, choose Piezoelectric Devices>Displacement
field (Material)>Displacement field, R component (u).
6 Locate the y-Axis Data section. From the Unit list, choose nm.
7 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Expression.
8 In the Expression edit field, type r.
9 From the Unit list, choose mm.
10 Click the Plot button.
11 In the Model Builder window, right-click 1D Plot Group 3 and choose Rename.
12 Go to the Rename 1D Plot Group dialog box and type Radial Displacement
(direct effect) in the New name edit field.

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13 Click OK.

Radial Displacement (direct effect) 1

1 Right-click 1D Plot Group 3 and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Radial Displacement (direct
effect) 1 and choose Rename.
3 Go to the Rename 1D Plot Group dialog box and type Voltage (direct effect)

in the New name edit field.

4 Click OK.

Voltage (direct effect)

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Voltage (direct effect) node, then

click Line Graph 1.

2 In the Line Graph settings window, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the Expression edit field, type abs(V).
4 Click the Plot button.

Now change the physics settings to model the inverse piezoelectric effect. First add an
electric potential feature on the outer boundary. This will over-ride the existing ground
feature.
PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICES

Electric Potential 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Model 1>Piezoelectric Devices and choose

the boundary condition Electrical>Electric Potential.

2 Select Boundary 4 only.
3 In the Electric Potential settings window, locate the Electric Potential section.
4 In the V0 edit field, type 1.

Next disable the boundary load.

Ground 1
In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Piezoelectric Devices right-click Boundary
Load 1 and choose Disable.
Finally add a new study to compute the results for the inverse effect separately.
ROOT

In the Model Builder window, right-click the root node and choose Add Study.

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MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.

2 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies>Stationary.
3 Click Finish.
STUDY 2

In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 2 and choose Compute.

RESULTS

Plot the radial displacement and potential as before.

Displacement (pzd)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Displacement (pzd) and choose
Rename.
2 Go to the Rename 2D Plot Group dialog box and type Radial Displacement,
inverse (pzd) in the New name edit field.

3 Click OK.

Radial Displacement, inverse (pzd)

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Radial Displacement, inverse (pzd)

node, then click Surface 1.

2 In the Surface settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of

the Expression section. From the menu, choose Piezoelectric Devices>Displacement

field (Material)>Displacement field, R component (u).
3 Click the Plot button.

Potential, 3D (pzd) 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Potential, 3D (pzd) 1 and

choose Rename.
2 Go to the Rename 3D Plot Group dialog box and type Potential, 3D, inverse
(pzd) in the New name edit field.

3 Click OK.

Create a second cut line for the new solution.

Data Sets
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Data Sets node.
2 Right-click Cut Line 2D 1 and choose Duplicate.
3 In the Cut Line 2D settings window, locate the Data section.

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4 From the Data set list, choose Solution 2.

Reproduce the two line plots for the inverse effect.

Radial Displacement (direct effect) 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Radial Displacement (direct
effect) and choose Duplicate.
2 In the 1D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Cut Line 2D 2.
4 Right-click Results>Radial Displacement (direct effect) 1 and choose Rename.
5 Go to the Rename 1D Plot Group dialog box and type Radial Displacement
(inverse effect) in the New name edit field.

6 Click OK.
7 Click the Plot button.

Voltage (direct effect) 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Voltage (direct effect) and

choose Duplicate.
2 In the 1D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Cut Line 2D 2.
4 Right-click Results>Voltage (direct effect) 1 and choose Rename.
5 Go to the Rename 1D Plot Group dialog box and type Voltage (inverse effect)

in the New name edit field.

6 Click OK.
7 Click the Plot button.

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