Methodology for force measurement using piezoelectric ceramic

Abstract

Currently, the shift of the resonant frequency of a PZT (Lead zirconate titanate) ceramic is required for pressure measurement. In order to measure the resonant frequency in each load, however, both a frequency generator and an impedance analyzer must be applied. The primary objective of this study is to develop a new methodology which is costeffective and simple, as compared to the currently-used method for pressure measurement, using a PZT ceramic. In the methodology developed herein, we have measured the change in the impedance of each load when a fixed frequency, the anti-resonance frequency, was applied to the PZT ceramic. Impedance changes can be measured according to changes of current via Ohm’s law, and thus pressure was measured by voltage in the PZT ceramic. The load was increased from 0 kg to 3 kg, and the result, measured in voltage, and the experimental results yielded a regression equation of y=1.2069x+0.3706 and an r-square value of 0.9765.