Advantages and limitations of cymbals for sensor and actuator applications

This work summarizes the electromechanical properties as sensor and actuator of cymbal transducers. Some of the advantages of the cymbal piezocomposites are the unique piezoelectric properties resulted for both the charge and the displacement amplification, the ability to tailor the desired properties by the choice of the cap and driver materials, the simple design, the easiness of fabrication, and their low cost. These advantages allow to employ the cymbal piezocereamics in numerous applications. Nevertheless there are some limitations related to manufacture and design. The majority of the impedance spectra of cymbals show a double peak instead of a single endcap resonance peak, and in addition, exhibit a resonance frequency distribution. All the same, externally adding mass solves both problems. On the other hand, finite element analysis of the electric potential and mechanical stress distributions are attempted. The results show high electric potential and mechanical stress concentration associated to the resonant modes, which limited resonant applications of cymbals, to low driving voltages.