Experimental Investigation of Rate-Dependent Inner Hysteresis Loops in PZT

Abstract

The rate-dependence of piezoelectric material resulting from the kinetics of domain switching is an important factor that needs to be included in realistic modeling attempts. This paper provides a systematic study of the rate-dependent hysteresis behavior of a commercially available PZT stack actuator. Experiments covering full loop as well as first, second, third and forth order reversals are conducted at different loading rates with polarization and strain recorded. Creep behavior at different constant levels of the electric field is also observed. The kinetics are characterized by strongly varying relaxation times that can be associated with different switching mechanisms. Inner hysteresis loops in the (P, E) diagram are also shown to have different characteristics depending on the electric field level at the reversal points.