Unlock the potential of piezoelectric actuators with advanced CFD analysis in Ansys Fluent.
Piezoelectric actuators are essential components in a range of industrial applications, including precision machinery, medical devices, and aerospace technologies. For instance, piezoelectric pumps and piezoelectric atomizers utilize the prescribed motion generated by piezoelectric actuators for precise and controlled pumping and atomizing fluids. The piezoelectric actuators convert electrical energy into mechanical motion, making them essential for applications that require precise control and rapid response. However, designing effective piezoelectric actuators presents several challenges. One major difficulty is achieving the desired motion and force output while ensuring durability and reliability. Piezoelectric materials tend to be brittle, which can result in mechanical failure under high-stress conditions. Furthermore, understanding the complex interaction between electrical and mechanical domains is crucial to ensure optimal performance. Engineers must also consider thermal effects that can degrade the material properties. Additionally, when evaluating overall actuator performance, it is important to account for the interaction between fluid and structure (FSI) in the design of systems that utilize piezoelectric atomizers and pumps.
Piezoelectric Pump
Piezoelectric Atomizer
To tackle the challenges of piezoelectric actuator design, engineers utilize advanced multiphysics analysis in Ansys. CFD simulations in Ansys Fluent provide essential insights into the behavior of piezoelectric actuators under various conditions, reducing the dependency on physical prototypes. Ansys allows for coupled analyses that integrate mechanical, electrical, fluid, and thermal effects, capturing critical multiphysics interactions, such as Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI). With Ansys Fluent and coupled analysis, engineers can model the relationship between mechanical deformation caused by piezoelectric excitation and the resulting fluid response. This method yields reliable performance predictions and facilitates the optimization of key design parameters. By leveraging multiphysics simulations, engineers can accelerate design iterations, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with industry standards. This blog explores the CFD analysis process required for such multiphysics simulation.
Dynamic mesh motion in Ansys Fluent is a core capability for accurately simulating geometries that move and/or deform over time. This is especially valuable for piezoelectric actuators, where structural deformations directly impact fluid flow and overall system behavior. By leveraging dynamic mesh motion, engineers capture real-time actuator responses to electrical signals, revealing transient multiphysics interactions and enabling precise evaluation of actuator performance and reliability.
Modeling piezoelectric actuators in Ansys Fluent involves several key steps:
The following figures illustrate the overview of the dynamic mesh setup process in Ansys Fluent.
Video 1: This video highlights practical examples of piezoelectric actuators and demonstrates how to implement prescribed motion with the dynamic mesh technique to model deformations caused by piezo excitation. It also covers the setup of the Fluent VOF multiphase model for simulating water drop formation and results.
Video 2: This video examines different models for air (constant density and real gas) and water (constant density and compressible liquid). It also discusses how varying excitation parameters in piezoelectric actuators influence the performance and dynamics of drop formation.
Using dynamic mesh motion in Ansys Fluent offers numerous benefits for the design and analysis of piezoelectric actuators. It provides a more accurate representation of the actuator's behavior, leading to better performance predictions and design optimizations. Additionally, dynamic mesh motion allows for the simulation of complex interactions between the actuator and its environment, such as fluid-structure interactions (FSI). This comprehensive approach helps engineers identify potential issues early in the design process, reducing the risk of costly failures and ensuring the actuator meets all performance requirements.
Ozen Engineering Inc. leverages it's extensive consulting expertise in CFD, FEA, thermal, optics, photonics, and electromagnetic simulations to achieve exceptional results across various engineering projects, addressing complex challenges like multiphase flows, erosion modeling, and channel flows using Ansys software.
We provide expert consulting, mentoring, and training to optimize hydraulic and water control systems. Our team leverages advanced simulation tools like Ansys Fluent to deliver precise, reliable solutions for piezoelectric actuator design and analysis. For details, visit https://ozeninc.com.
Dynamic Mesh Motion in Fluent - Piezoelectric Actuators 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWACNQ_abCI&t=302s
Dynamic Mesh Motion in Fluent - Piezoelectric Actuators 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmcXOwfPPvQ&t=83s
Dynamic Mesh Motion in Ansys Fluent – Part 1: https://youtu.be/4nFYwgmSkQM
Dynamic Mesh Motion in Ansys Fluent – Part 2: https://youtu.be/q8A4l2jsq5k
Dynamic Mesh Motion in Ansys Fluent – Part 3: https://youtu.be/isaXu2GsYS4
Dynamic Mesh Motion in Ansys Fluent: https://blog.ozeninc.com/resources/mesh-motion-parameters-in-ansys-fluent