Joseph A. Klunder
Robert D. Corsaro
Naval Res. Lab., Code 7130, Washington, DC 20375-5350
This paper describes the design and evaluation of a very low cost high-sensitivity accelerometer included in a large area actuator. Recently MSI has begun commercial production of a 1-3 composite transducer material using an injection molding approach. This actuator material consists of a large number of transducer rods, which would typically be combined to form an actuator. NRL recognized that an incidental number of these rods could instead be converted for use as an imbedded accelerometer array, at little additional cost. This paper describes the design and performance of accelerometers formed using this process, and issues related to their proximity to the actuator. Such combination transducers are particularly needed in active control and smart-materials applications, but additionally would find use in advanced underwater, aerospace or robotic sensing applications.