Actuation stress modelling of piezoceramic transducers under variable temperature field

The article presents a two-dimensional temperature-dependent model of piezoceramic transducers used for Lamb wave–based damage detection applications. The effect of temperature on shear stress and normal stress components influencing wave actuation is analysed. Three models are analysed and compared, that is, static theoretical model and two numerical models, that is, static and dynamic. These models are analysed for two different piezoceramic transducers’ thicknesses. The results demonstrate that the effective transducer’s length is smaller than its physical in-plane dimension. The influence of the normal actuation stress component is significant for wave actuation. This component is dependent on temperature and transducer’s dimension.