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Single Crystal Piezoelectric Actuators for Adaptive Structures

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 		Award ID:
68720 		Program Year/Program:
2004 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
03SB2-0134 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
TRS CERAMICS, INC.
2820 East College Avenue State College, PA -
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Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2004
Title: Single Crystal Piezoelectric Actuators for Adaptive Structures
Agency / Branch: DOD / DARPA
Contract: W31P4Q-04-C-R108
Award Amount: $98,972.00
 

Abstract:

Single crystal piezoelectric actuators are proposed as a means of significantly increasing the stroke of a smart actuator to control the trailing edge flap of a helicopter rotor for vibration control and noise suppression. Conventional piezoelectric ceramic actuators have exhibited inadequate levels of stroke and/or force required to produce an angle of rotation of ¿8¿ at 40 Hz. Single crystals based on (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 (PMN-PT) represent a revolutionary advance in piezoelectric actuator technology. These materials exhibit 5 to 10 times the strain of conventional ceramic piezoelectrics with equivalent deliverable force. Therefore, they offer a much broader design space for adaptive systems than is currently available with ceramic actuators, active fiber composites, electric motors or magnetic devices. The objectives of this project are: 1) to fabricate complete actuators of three leading actuator types using new single crystal piezoceramic material technology. Specifically, a d33 stack, and d32 bender, and a d15 induced shear tube will be addressed, 2) to measure and characterize piezo-coupling coefficients under electromechanical conditions representative of smart rotor and airframe applications, 3) to conduct a performance analysis quantifying the projected gains in actuation capability given the measured single crystal element characteristics.

Principal Investigator:

Paul W. Rehrig
Director of Research & De
8142387485
paul@trstechnologies.com

Business Contact:

Wesley S. Hackenberger
President
8142387485
wes@trstechnologies.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

TRS CERAMICS, INC.
2820 East College Avenue State College, PA 16801

EIN/Tax ID: 251637806
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No