Measurement of the High-Power Quality Factor for Piezoelectric Transducers Based on the Electrical Harmonic Steady-State Response

Abstract:
The mechanical quality factor is an important parameter of piezoceramics and piezoceramic components. When designing new compositions of piezoceramics or new piezoceramic devices, it is important to know the value or the characteristic curve of the mechanical quality factor in power applications. The method for the quality factor determination conventionally used in low-power applications and valid for linear oscillators cannot be used in power applications. In this article, the author shows why determining the mechanical quality factor of piezoceramics in power applications using the model for a linear oscillator is inappropriate. Furthermore, a nonlinear model of the piezoceramic oscillator and a new measurement method for determining the mechanical quality factor are presented. Results of quality factor determination of a piezoceramic component and piezoceramic materials are shown as an example.