TY - JOUR TI - Flip-through effect and bending of PVDF shallow spherical piezo-electrical switches DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3XG9T9P PY - 2016 AB - The use of piezo-electrical devices is becoming more widespread. The principle of such devices was discovered to aid in the study of radiation. The piezo-device was found to give off an electrical charge when it was depressed. A year later, researchers also realized that not only could this device give off electrical charge, but also, if an electric charge was released into it, that it would turn that electrical charge into mechanical work. There is also study of a phenomenon called the flip effect. This effect occurs when a structure is created by fusing two materials together. For the remainder of this thesis we will use the term bi-material to describe such a structure. The flip-effect occurs when a solid structure is heated (or freeze) whereby energy is either added or removed. As a result, the structure becomes unstable in its current configuration and transitions to a new stable state. This happens because there is internal moment within the structure that gives it rigidity. This thesis looks at the equations that are related to energy for what causes the structure to become unstable and then flip to the other side. Another aspect that was looked at was how COMSOL models also demonstrate that such a structure can be created. The energy equations are related to theses COMSOL models. From the model information a structure is then built from manufactured parts. When the researcher was looking for materials to experiment piezo-electrical polymers were found. These polymers are quite new and not widely utilized at present. They have been primarily used in speaker systems. Previously, speaker systems were made of quartz, paper, or other types of vibrating materials. These polymers were selected as a basis for this thesis since they are exceptionally flexible and easy to mold. Experiments have been conducted with piezo-polymers, with results that are similar to the COMSOL and the derived equations. It was found that a fairly reliable switch can be created using the polymers; however, there are questions of cost and design constraints that have to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. KW - Civil and Environmental Engineering KW - Piezoelectric devices LA - eng ER -