Abstract
The imaginary component, ξD31β of the nonlinear piezoelectric coefficient of the third-higher term, ξD31, which quantitatively expresses the magnitude of the nonlinearity, was measured in Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3–PbZrO3–PbTiO3 (PMS–PZ–PT) system ceramics. The ξD31β was determined from the phase delay of the third-higher harmonic voltage generated in the samples during constant-current driving. The dependence of ξD31β on the composition was similar to that of ξD31. Using the ξD31β, two theoretical equations for the current-jumping phenomenon and the change of mechanical quality factor in high-power driving are constructed. The calculation curves simulated by those theoretical equations agreed with the experimental values measured about the two phenomena. It is revealed that the nonlinear loss component during high-power vibration is quantitatively estimated by introducing the ξD31β.
