Integrated model and analysis of a pneumatic piezoelectric actuator

This paper presents an integrated physical model of a pneumatic piezoelectric actuator. The model presented herein formulates the hybrid actuation concept. The model combines certain aspects of each of the sub-systems composing the actuator, to achieve a better and more efficient prediction of the actuator system performance. In the hybrid actuation concept, several sub-systems, such as a mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic, are combined to take certain advantages of each sub-system to obtain an improved performance. The dynamics of the pneumatic system and of the entire piezo-pneumatic unit is clearly expressed in the lumped parameter model. The foremost building blocks of the integrated model include the static and the dynamic characteristics of stacked piezoelectric elements under certain operating conditions as well as in a general model of a pneumatic actuator. As part of this research, an improved benchtop piezo-pneumatic actuation unit has been developed and the concept of piezo-pneumatic actuation has been demonstrated. It was shown by means of simulations and measurements that the model provides a general and unified perspective on the topic of hybrid actuation from the views of pneumatics, mechanics and electronics.