On the performance of 1–3 piezoelectric composites with a passive and active matrix

Piezoelectric composites with 1–3 connectivity are an important class of materials for underwater acoustics and biomedical imaging. Their dependence on the electromechanical properties and geometry of the piezoelectric fibers creates an opportunity for tailoring its performance according to the design requirements. In this research, the performance of 1–3 piezoelectric composite with an active and passive matrix is studied. The micromechanics based Mori-Tanaka model for piezoelectric composite is used to determine the electromechanical moduli of the composites. In comparison with a passive polymer matrix, the use of active polymer matrix can significantly enhance the hydrostatic performance of the piezoelectric composite. However, no significant improvement on the electromechanical coupling and acoustic impedance is observed. Further results reveal that the use of piezoelectric ceramic matrix does not improve the performance of the composite.