Characterization of piezoceramics.

A 3-D approach to piezoelectric material characterization, based on the assumption that the coordinate axes are pure mode propagation directions, is described. In this case the general equations simplify and an analytical solution can be achieved. For two geometrical shapes (rectangular and cylindrical), stress and strain tensor components and the electrical impedance of the sample are obtained. These 3-D equations show that the wave velocities and permittivity are intrinsic parameters of the medium and do not depend on either the sample geometry or the mode that is considered. This was not true for the 1-D models where the wave velocities and permittivity are different for each of the modes or geometries.