Contact mechanics of piezoelectric ultrasonic motors

Piezoelectric ultrasonic motors are driven by tangential stresses in the interface between stator and rotor. These stresses are generated by the elliptical motion of the material points of the stator or rotor surface and depend on frictional processes in the contact area. The contact mechanics of piezoelectric ultrasonic motors determines the operational characteristics, like rotational speed and torque or transmitted mechanical power and efficiency. Wear properties and lifetime of piezoelectric ultrasonic motors are also determined by contact mechanics. The goal of the present paper is to summarize the state of the art in the understanding of some fundamental processes governing the contact mechanics of piezoelectric ultrasonic motors. After a short introduction, a survey of publications devoted to the subject will be given. Then, an attempt will be made to classify the mechanical models, which were developed in order to explain the contact mechanics of piezoelectric ultrasonic motors, according to the physical effects which have been taken into account in their derivation. Some results concerning the choice of proper contact materials, wear and lifetime of ultrasonic motors will be addressed in a separate section. Finally a summary and outlook will be given and open questions for future research will be formulated.