抄録
This paper describes the output voltage characteristics of the metal-core piezoelectric ceramic fiber/aluminum composites fabricated by the Interphase Forming/Bonding (IF/B) method. Piezoelectric materials are generally used as electric and mechanical energy transducers. When their devices are developed for fulfilling their functions, complicated electrode systems and resin layers for adhesion of the materials and the electrodes are usually needed, where depression of response and reliability, and complication of structure are caused. Additionally, as the metal-core piezoelectric ceramic fiber is brittle and reactive with molten aluminum, general fabrication processes such as diffusion bonding and casting are hard to be applied to embed it into an aluminum matrix. Therefore the IF/B method was used for embedding it in an aluminum matrix without fracturing it. In this study, a thin patch type device developed by the modified IF/B method was evaluated by a vibration test and an impact test. As the result, it was found that the output voltage from the device is proportional to its strain and the square root of the impact energy. In addition, the output voltage varies with its strain direction. Especially, at the strain direction 50.6 degrees, sign of the output voltage changes. Taking the above mentioned characteristics into consideration, this composite was found to be useful for structural health monitoring systems.
