Non-contact precision actuation and optimal actuator placement of hybrid photostrictive beam structronic systems

Non-contact wireless actuation offers many advantages to precision control, as compared with conventional hard-wired actuation mechanisms. High-energy laser or ultraviolet lights irradiating on photostrictive materials can induce a photodeformation process involving two fundamental effects: 1) the photovoltaic effect and 2) the converse piezoelectric effect. This photodeformation process transforms photonic energy to mechanical strain/stress that can be directly used for actuation and control applications. With specific design configurations, the photodeformation process of photostrictive actuators can induce various control forces and moments applied to precision manipulation and control of mechatronic and structronic systems. In this study, fundamental photodeformation coupling mechanisms among photo-thermo -electromechanical/control fields are investigated and parametric evaluation of various design parameters of a hybrid photostrictive/elastic beam is conducted. A mathematical model for a laminated beam with segmented photostrictive actuators is defined, followed by photodeformation induced modal control forces and moments of segmented actuators. Characteristics of actuation and control effectiveness of distributed photostrictive actuators at various locations, natural modes and illumination intensities are analyzed in case studies. The most effective actuator location(s) for controlling the first four beam modes are illustrated. Finally, with scheduling light irradiations on various photostrictive actuators, one can control multiple beam modes, allowed by control electronics and material response.