Design of Compliant Mechanisms for Amplification of Induced Strain Actuators

Abstract The focus of this paper is on designing compliant mechanism amplifiers for piezoelectric actuators using a topology optimization approach. Two optimization formulations are developed: one in which the overall stroke amplification or geometric advantage (GA) is maximized, and another where the mechanical efficiency (ME) of the amplifier is maximized. Two solution strategies are used, Sequential Linear Programming (SLP) and an Optimality Criteria method, and results are compared with respect to computation time and mechanism performance. Design examples illustrate the characteristics of both problem formulations, and physical prototypes have been fabricated as proof of concept. An automated detail design procedure has also been developed which allows the topology optimization results obtained in MATLAB to be directly translated into a neutral 3-D solid geometry format for import into other CAE programs.