Abstract
This article introduces the development of new piezoelectric ceramic devices for smart structural systems, which was carried out at the Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University as a part of the smart materials and structural systems research project sponsored by New Energy and Industrial Technology and Development Organization (NEDO). The new piezoelectric devices include high-performance PNN-PZT devices fabricated by a hybrid process of microwave heating and hot-press, PZT and PNN-PZT fibers without metal cores fabricated using a sol gel and powder hybrid process, PNN-PZT fibers with metal cores and functionally graded (FG) PZT bending actuators.
