Perfect your piezoelectric/ultrasonic device

Learn Piezo Lectures

Learn Piezo Video Lectures aim to provide a means for learning the fundamentals of piezoelectric materials and their applications by providing a video lecture series on the subject.

Workshop: Question & Answer

Lecture 1: Introduction to learnpiezo.org

Lecture 2: Mechanical and electrical properties of materials

Lecture 3: "Macroscopic" piezoelectric material properties

Lecture 4: Microscopic Origins of Piezoelectricity

Lecture 5: Losses in Piezoelectric Materials

Lecture 6: Frequency Response

Lecture 7: Piezoelectric Actuators and Sensors

Lecture 8: Lab demonstrations

Lecture 9: Thermodynamics relationships

Lecture 10: Impedance Analyzer Characterization of Properties

Lecture 11: Piezo heat transfer

Lecture 12: Energy harvesting

Lecture 13: COMSOL Simulation

Question and Answer - Q & A

Contact me for QnA or to inquire about consulting on your ultrasonic device application. CLICK HERE to schedule a call or contact me at husain@learnpiezo.com

Lecture 1: Introduction to LearnPiezo.org (8 min)

Lecture 2: Mechanical and electrical properties of materials

Lesson Length (1 hour and 4 min)

In this lecture we introduce several concepts regarding mechanical and electrical materials properties and quantities. You may already be familiar with these topics. That being said, I feel a review of this material is necessary to form a solid foundation before discussing the electromechancial properties of piezoelectric materials

Mechanical properties and quantities

Part A: Essential definitions of force and stress

Part B: Essential understanding of displacement and strain

Part C: Important concepts regarding the Young's modulus

Part D: Elastic compliance vs. Young's modulus

Part E: Poisson's Ratio - Displacement in different directions

Part F: Anisotropic material properties - simple, effective explanation

Electrical properties and quantities

Part G: A digestible explanation of voltage and electric field

Part H: Capacitance explained clearly

Part I: Dielectric permittivity - easy to understand

Lecture 3: Macroscopic Piezoelectric Properties

In this lecture we are introduced to the different parameters and properties that describe the electromechanical behavior of piezoelectric materials.

Part A: Basic introduction to Piezoelectricity

Part B: Piezoelectric and spontaneous polarization

Part c: The fundamental piezoelectric quantity - the Piezoelectric charge constant

Part D: Piezoelectric charge constant and spontaneous polarization

Part E: The famous Piezoelectric Constitutive Equations

Part F: Piezoelectricity and the Electric Displacement

Part G: Electrical boundary conditions and their affect on piezoelectric materials

Part H: Permittivity in a Piezo material related to mechanical boundary conditions

Part I: Piezoelectricity, Permittivity, and Boundary Conditions

Part J: Electromechanical Coupling Factor in Piezoelectric Materials

Part K: Electromechanical coupling factor from applied electric field

Part L: Electromechanical Coupling Factor from applied stress

(98min)

Part M: Permittivity and the electromechanical coupling coefficient

Part N: Elastic Compliance in Piezoelectric material according to boundary condition

Part O: Equivalent Circuit Analysis in piezoelectric materials

Part P: Modeling piezoelectric energy as an equivalent spring system

Part Q: Piezoelectricity vs.Thermal Expansion

Part R: Thickness vs. length extensional piezo resonators properties (kt and k33) -

Contact me for QnA or to inquire about consulting on your ultrasonic device application. CLICK HERE to schedule a call or contact me at husain@learnpiezo.com

Lecture 4: Microscopic Origins of Piezoelectricity

In this lecture, we discuss piezoelectricity from a microscopic perspective. The topics which will be covered are spontaneous polarization, domain wall, polarization reversal/reorientation, and domain wall contributions toward piezoelectric material properties.

Lecture Length (74 min)

Part A: Spontaneous polarization in piezoelectric materials

Part B: Origins of piezoelectricity from a simple spring model

Part C: Ferroelectric/Piezoelectric Polarization Reorientation

Part D: Domain wall motion and its contribution to piezoelectricity

Part E: Ferroelectric materials as a subclass of piezoelectric materials

Part F: Doping piezoelectric materials to affect electromechanical properties

Part G: The P-E hysteresis characteristic/signature of a ferroelectric material

Part H: P-E hysteresis signature/loop of a ferroelectric material (Part 2)

Part I: Ferroelectric Strain

Lecture 5: Losses in Piezoelectric Materials

This lecture covers the loss treatment of piezoelectric materials. Losses in materials are covered in general, and then the treatment of mechanical, dielectric, and piezoelectric losses in piezoelectric materials are detailed.

Part A: Introduction to material losses/hysteresis from a simple spring model

Part B: Definition of elastic loss according from an energy perspective

Part C: Using complex numbers/loss tangent to describe material losses

Part D: Material losses with regards to phase lag

Part E: Relationship between material losses and complex material properties

Part F: Electromechanical/piezoelectric losses

Part G: Continuation of discussion of electromechanical losses

Part H: Electromechanical losses from an energy perspective

Part I: Summary of piezoelectric material losses

Part J: Why do losses in a material create a phase lag?

Part K: Why do losses in a material create a phase lag? Part 2

Part L: Why do losses in a material create a phase lag? Part 3

Lecture 6: Frequency Response of Piezoelectrics

In this lecture, we will cover the behavior of piezoelectric materials to alternating electric fields and stress. The effect of mechanical resonance will be discussed. Also, equivalent circuit analysis will be provided. Finally, the integration of all of the loss factors will be completed for the forced frequency response.

Part A: An introduction to resonance for piezoelectric applications

Part B: Discussion of resonance with regards to energy

Part C: The resonance phenomenon and resulting phase

Part D: The resonance phenomenon and resulting phase (Part 2)

Part E: Mathematical description of resonance

Part F: Explaining resonance and losses using an imaginary spring constant model

Part G: Explaining resonance and losses using an imaginary spring constant: Part 2

Part H: Continuous vibration in piezoelectric elements PART 1

Part I: Continuous vibration in piezoelectric elements PART 2

Part J: Continuous vibration in piezoelectric elements PART 3

Part K: Displacement profile of a piezoelectric rod

Part L: Simplifying piezoelectric analysis to one dimension (IDOF) Part 1

Part M: Simplifying piezoelectric analysis to one dimension (IDOF) Part 2

Lecture 7: Piezoelectric Actuators and Sensors

In this lecture, we discuss what piezoelectric materials are capable of. How much displacement can we get? How much voltage can we generate? What can we do to increase the performance? What are the limitations? All these questions and more will be answered in this lecture.

Part A: Piezoelectric displacement and multilayer actuator

Part B: Piezoelectric displacement and displacement enhancement.

Part C: Piezoelectric materials used for sensors

Part D: Piezoelectric sensor signal enhancement

Part E: Piezoelectric sensors to measuring alternating force

Part F: Blocking force and free displacement in piezoelectric actuators

Part G: Blocking force and free displacement and piezoelectric actuators Part 2

Part H: Blocking force and free displacement in piezoelectric actuators - Part 3

Contact me for QnA or to inquire about consulting on your ultrasonic device application. CLICK HERE to schedule a call or contact me at husain@learnpiezo.com

Lecture 8: Laboratory Demonstrations

In this lecture, we learn about piezoelectric materials firsthand in the lab.

Lecture 8A: Using the direct piezoelectric effect to determine polarization direction

Part B: Determine the polarization of a piezoelectric material using heat - pyro

Part C: The frequency response of a piezoelectric element

Part D: Lab measurement of piezoelectric resonance and antiresonance

Lecture 9: Thermodynamic Explanation of Properties

In this lecture, we will discuss how energy (thermodynamics) can be used to understand piezoelectric material properties.

Part A: Piezoelectric and thermodynamics

Part B: Pyroelectricity and spontaneous polarization

Lecture 10: Impedance Analyzer Characterization

PowerPoint File

In this lecture, we learn how to characterize a piezoelectric material or transducer using an impedance analyzer, one of the most common instruments used to measure piezoelectric material properties.

Part A: (Part 1) HP 4294a Impedance Analyzer to Characterize Piezo

Part B: (Part 2) HP 4294a Impedance Analyzer to Characterize Piezo

Part C: (Part 3) HP 4294a Impedance Analyzer to Characterize Piezo

Part D: (Part 4) HP 4294a Impedance Analyzer to Characterize Piezo

Part E: (Part 1) Using impedance analysis to characterize piezoelectric transducer

Part F: (Part 2) Resonance of the k31 and k33 piezoelectric transducer

Part G: (Part 3) Resonance of the kp/radial piezoelectric resonator

Part H: (Part 4) Measurement of permittivity

Part I: (Part 5) Determine density, compliance, and coupling factor of a piezo

Part J: (Part 6) Analysis of mechanical quality factors in piezo transducers

Contact me for QnA or to inquire about consulting on your ultrasonic device application. CLICK HERE to schedule a call or contact me at husain@learnpiezo.com

Lecture 11: Piezoelectric Heat Transfer

In this lecture, we learn about fundamental concepts of heat transfer, we apply them to heat generation in piezoelectric materials, and finally experimental demonstrations using a thermal camera are shown to solidify concepts.

Part A: Heat transfer and heat generation in piezoelectric transducers

Part B: Convection and radiation heat transfer in piezoelectric transducers Part 1

Part C: Convection and radiation heat transfer in piezoelectric transducers Part 2

Part D: Heat generation and thermal equilibrium in piezoelectric transducers

Part E: Quality factor in piezoelectric transducers from temperature Part 1

Part F: Quality factor in piezoelectric transducers from temperature Part 2

Part G: Piezoelectric heat generation demonstration Part 1

Part H: Demonstration of piezoelectric heat generation

Here is the paper which I describe in Part E and Part F Characterization of Mechanical Loss in Piezoelectric Materials Using Temperature and Vibration Measurements http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jace.12998/abstract

Lecture 12: Energy Harvesting

In this lecture, we will go over all of the basics of energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials.

Part A: Introduction to piezoelectric energy harvesting

Part B: Equations for a simple piezoelectric energy harvester

Part C: Maximum energy from a piezoelectric energy harvesting with step input

Part D: Piezoelectric energy harvesting according to an alternating force

Part E: Analysis of a commercially available piezoelectric energy harvester

Contact me for QnA or to inquire about consulting on your ultrasonic device application. CLICK HERE to schedule a call or contact me at husain@learnpiezo.com

Lecture 13: COMSOL Simulations

In this lecture, we will go over how to use the piezoelectric modules of COMSOL.

Part A: COMSOL simulation of the converse piezoelectric effect

Part B: COMSOL simulation of the direct piezoelectric effect (sensor)

Lecture 14: Piezoelectric Drive Theory

In this lecture, we will go over the general principles on how ultrasonic transducer are driven.

Part A: Ultrasonic/piezoelectric transducer frequency response concepts

Part B: Using closed-loop control of current to control an ultrasonic transducer

Project Ultrasonic Cleaner

In this project, we will build an Ultrasonic Cleaner from basic components easily found online

Part A: Introduction to DIY Ultrasonic Cleaner (PPT)

PART B: Finding the resonance frequency (PPT)

PART C: Impulse resonance frequency (PPT)

PART D: Capacitance (AC and time constant methods) (PPT)

Part E1: Programming the PicoScope (PPT)

Part E2: Defining PicoScope Python Functions (PPT)

Part E3: Automated Measurements Through Looping (PPT)

Part E4: Graphical User Interface - Picoscope (PPT)

Part F: Ultrasonic cleaner assembly (PPT)

Project 1 Part G: Low Power Analysis - Ultrasonic Cleaner (PPT)

Project 1 Part H1: Audio Amplifier used to Drive Transducer (PPT)

Project 1 Part H2: (Continued) Audio Amplifier Used to Drive Transducer (see last PPT)

Question and Answer

Some questions submitted through email and teleconference have made their way here. Ask away!

Q1: What is the behavior of a piezoelectric component if I apply a voltage with a frequency that it is not its resonance and antiresonance frequency?
Q2: How can we estimate piezoelectric properties from the capacitance? Often times we do not have access to equipment which makes resonance characterization easy. Therefore, for this or other reasons we would like another way to easily understand a property using off-resonance measurements. In this lecture, I explain how to estimate material properties from the capacitance and dielectric loss.
Q3: Problems with a transient ultrasonic transducer Designing an ultrasonic transducer can go horribly wrong. In this lecture we discuss different problems with a transient ultrasonic transducer. In this applications a piezoelectric disk is used to propagate a wave through liquid, with the goal of determining the density of the liquid from the time of flight. Many problems that a real engineer had in this application are presented and their practical solutions.	PDF
Q4: Part 1- Regarding a Piezo Unimorph Sensor In this lecture, we describe and derive how to calculate voltage generated from a unimorph piezoelectric sensor. Relationships between tip displacement, strain, and generated voltage are discussed.	PDF
Q4: Part 2- Regarding a Piezo Unimorph Sensor In this lecture, we go over FEA verification of displacement, stress, and strain formulations derived in Part 1 using the FEA program Mecway	No PDF

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