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Piezoelectric materials are widely used as sensors, transducers and actuators
because of their excellent electromechanical coupling effect. Due to the
advantages of traditional functionally graded materials (FGMs) in reducing
residual and thermal stresses [1-2], the concept of FGMs has been introduced into
piezoelectric materials. These kinds of new materials are called functionally
graded piezoelectric materials (FGPMs), which possess continuous variation in
composition and properties. The application of new FGPMs in electromechanical
devices is expected to have advantages over the traditionally used homogeneous
piezoelectric materials in meeting high demands for their lifetime and reliability.
For example, the usage of FGPMs replacing layered piezoelectric components in
electromechanical devices, such as bimorph, may avoid failure caused by
interfacial debonding or stress concentration [3].