Abstract
Methods for the high stress characterisation of piezoelectric ceramics have been examined. Displacement measuring techniques have been compared, with fibre optic probes being the most practical. A method for measuring displacement variations over a surface area has been developed and used on a multilayer ceramic. Mechanical degradation of piezoelectrics has been performed using an electromagnetic actuator in a resonating system at 230Hz, with loads of 20kN, and for over 108 cycles.