Electroelastic field concentrations ahead of electrodes in multilayer piezoelectric actuators: Experiment and finite element simulation

The effects of applied voltage on the electroelastic field concentrations ahead of electrodes in multilayer piezoelectric actuators were examined in a combined experimental and numerical investigation. Experiments were performed to measure the strain near internal and surface electrodes at various electrical loading conditions. The finite element method was also used to solve the coupled electro-elastic boundary value problem. The strain, stress and electric displacement concentrations were calculated and a non-linear behavior induced by localized polarization switching was discussed. A comparison of strain concentration was made between experiment and simulation.