• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.37-44
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• 2004

This paper deals with the performance analysis of LIPCA(Light-weight Piezo-Composite actuator) including the material nun-linearity of the embedded 3203HD PZT wafer. For this analysis, we used a piezo-shell element code based on a nine-node assumed strain shell element formulation. The material non-linearity was implemented in the formulation due to a large observed discrepancy between the measured displacement and the computed actuation displacement based on the linear analysis. An experimentally extracted piezo-strain function of the PZT wafer and incremental formulation were incorporated into the linear finite element code to improve the accuracy of the estimated actuation displacement of the LIPCA. The non-linear piezo-shell program was used to predict the non-linear performance of the LIPCA. The simulated actuation displacement from the non-linear code showed much better agreement with the measured data.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1063-1071
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• 2008

A piezoceramic unimoph actuator can produce a relatively larger actuation force and actuation displacement when a proper compressive load is applied during operation, because the compressive stress causes material nonlinear behavior in the piezoceramic layer and triggers mechanical buckling. In this paper, we examined effects of the actuator under compression on the flapping angle and aerodynamic force generation capability. Effects of wing shape and passive wing rotation angle on the aerodynamic force production were also investigated. The average vertical force acquired by a 2D CFD simulation for an artificial wing showed a good agreement with the measured one by the experiment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.55-62
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• 2006

This paper presents experimental evaluation of an insect-mimicking flapping-wing device actuated by a unimorph piezoceramic actuator. Length of each rod and hinge point in the linkage/amplification system are carefully chosen such that the resulting wing motion can mimic clapping of wings in a real insect at the end of upstroke. In addition to this, a pair of corrugated wings are fabricated mimicking zig-zag cross section of a real insect wing. Thanks to the two additional implementation, the improved flapping wing device can generate a larger lift force than the previous model even though area of the new wing is about 50% less than that of the previous wing. In this work, effects of the wing clapping, the wing corrugation, and the input wave form on the lift force generation have been also experimentally investigated. Finally, the vortex generated by the flapping device has been captured by a high speed camera, showing that vortices are produced during up- and down-strokes.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.48-53
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• 2005

In this paper, we present our recent progress in the LIPCA (Lightweight Piezo-Composite Actuator) application for actuation of a flapping wing device. The flapping device uses linkage system that can amplify the actuation displacement of LIPCA. The feathering mechanism is also designed and implemented such that the wing can rotate during flapping. The natural flapping-frequency of the device was about 9 Hz, where the maximum flapping angle was achieved. The flapping test under 4 Hz to 15 Hz flapping frequency was performed to investigate the flapping performance by measuring the produced lift and thrust. Maximum lift and thrust were produced when the flapping device was actuated at about the natural flapping-frequency.