Induced Strain Actuation for Solid-State Ornithopters: A Parametric Study

This numerical study seeks to find a feasible location and orientation for a piezoelectric material to actuate a solid-state ornithopter modelled after the Great Blue Heron. The analysis is first conducted statically and dynamically on a simple rectangular cantilevered plate. A separate simplified model of a plate with Great Blue Heron wing profile is also examined statically and dynamically. The parameters considered are the angles of two piezoelectric Macro-Fiber Composite patches that are adhered to the cantilevered substrate near its base and at mid-span. The orientations of the patches are swept from 0 to 180 degrees as they are actuated at amplitude of 1000 Volts either statically or harmonically. By varying the orientation angles, various bending and twisting deflections are obtained and the responses are analyzed.