ELE Master of Science Thesis Defense by Patrick Chaves-ECE

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Topic: Enhancement of Polarization in Piezoelectric Ceramics with Stress Treatment

Abstract:

This thesis investigates the effectiveness of using a hydraulic press to apply a controlled uniaxial stress to enhance polarization in piezoelectric ceramics. Recent previous work used a hydrostatic pressure chamber that through clever design applied a uniaxial stress to the piezoceramics. Piezoelectric cylinders were tested and compared to results obtained by previous methods of Aronov, Aikins, et.al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 147(6), 4145-4152, 2020]. Measurements of the resonance frequency, anti-resonance frequency, effective piezoelectric coupling coefficient, low frequency capacitance and conductance were obtained using a HP 4194a impedance analyzer.  From these measurements, sample geometry and derived formulas for the equivalent electromechanical parameters, the piezoelectric modulus (d-constant), mechanical compliance, effective coupling coefficient, and electrical loss tangent are determined. Results showed that there was a comparable (20%) increase in the effective piezoelectric coupling coefficient of soft cylindrical piezoelectric ceramics (PZT-5) after using a hydraulic press to apply uniaxial stress. 

Advisor(s): Dr. David A. Brown, Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, UMass Dartmouth 

Committee Members:

Dr. Paul J. Gendron, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, UMass Dartmouth; Dr. Dayalan P. Kasilingam, Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, UMass Dartmouth; Dr. Eric Aikins, Research and Development Scientist, Raytheon Technologies 

NOTE: All ECE Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend. All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.

*For further information, please contact Dr. David A. Brown

Lester W. Cory Conference Room, Science & Engineering Building (SENG), Room 213A : 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
David A Brown
5089998479
dbrown@umassd.edu