Design of a distributed compliant mechanism using spring-lever model and topology optimization for piezoelectrically actuated flapping wings

Chattaraj, N and Ananthasuresh, GK and Ganguli, R (2021) Design of a distributed compliant mechanism using spring-lever model and topology optimization for piezoelectrically actuated flapping wings. In: Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, 28 (2). pp. 118-126.

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Abstract

We present a distributed compliant mechanism, which acts like a transmission between a flapping wing of a micro air vehicle and a laminated piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric bimorph actuator is connected in cantilever configuration with the compliant mechanism at its free end. The mechanism takes translational deflection at its input from the piezoelectric actuator to provide angular deflection at its output, which causes flapping. We used spring-level model and topology optimization to obtain the design of the mechanism. The design of the mechanism has been finalized by analyzing the design considering beam model with geometric nonlinearity. The final mechanism is a planar structure of 1 mm thickness and 40 mm ×24 mm in-plane footprint. The input stiffness of the compliant mechanism is 711 N/m and the output torsional stiffness is 0.014 Nm/rad. The compliant mechanism is tested with a piezoelectric bimorph actuator. The mechanism takes ±1 mm deflection with ±0.2 N block force at 30 Hz as an input and produces ±6° flap angle at 30 Hz as an output. The first fundamental frequency of the mechanism is 391 Hz, which is almost 13 times greater than our assumed wing flapping frequency 30 Hz. The final mechanism is prototyped with a 3D printer using VeroWhitePlus RGD835 material and tested with a piezoelectric bimorph actuator using a bench-top experimental set-up. © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures
Publisher:	Bellwether Publishing, Ltd.
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to Bellwether Publishing, Ltd
Keywords:	3D printers; Mechanisms; Micro air vehicle (MAV); Piezoelectric actuators; Piezoelectric materials; Piezoelectricity; Shape optimization; Springs (components); Stiffness; Topology; Vehicle transmissions; Wings, Experimental set up; flapping; Flapping mechanisms; Flapping wing micro air vehicle; Fundamental frequencies; Geometric non-linearity; Laminated piezoelectric actuators; Piezoelectric bimorph actuators, Compliant mechanisms
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Aerospace Engineering(Formerly Aeronautical Engineering)
Date Deposited:	22 Feb 2023 03:36
Last Modified:	22 Feb 2023 03:36
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/80434

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