論文(共著)が Smart Materials and Structures に掲載されました。

ポリマー超音波振動子の特性評価に関する論文(共著)が Smart Materials and Structures に掲載されました。

J. Wu, Y. Mizuno, and K. Nakamura, “Structural parameter study on polymer-based ultrasonic motor,” Smart Mater. Struct., vol. 26, no. 11, 115022 (2017).

Our previous study has shown that traveling-wave rotary ultrasonic motors using polymer-based vibrators can work in the same way as conventional motors with metal-based vibrators. It is feasible to enhance the performance, particularly output torques, of polymer-based motors by adjusting several key dimensions of their vibrators. In this study, poly phenylene sulfide, a functional polymer exhibiting low attenuation at ultrasonic frequency, is selected as the vibrating body, which was activated with a piezoelectric ceramic element bonded on its back surface. The optimal thicknesses of the polymer-based motors are higher than those of metal-based motors. When the same voltages were applied, the maximum torques and output power available with the polymer-based motors were lower than the values of the metal-based motors with the same structures. The reasons for the lower torque were explained on the basis of vibration modes. First, the force factors of the polymer-based vibrators are lower than those of metal-based vibrators owing to the great difference in the mechanical constants between polymers and piezoelectric ceramics. Subsequently, though the force factors of polymer- based vibrators can be slightly enhanced by increasing their thicknesses, the unavoidable radial vibrations become higher and cause undesirable friction loss, which reduces the output torques. Though the polymer-based motors have rotation speeds comparable to those of metal-based motors, their output powers are lower due to the low electromechanical coupling factors of the polymer-based vibrators.