Abstract
The stress distribution in multilayer piezoelectric ceramic actuators was investigated by Finite element analysis. The y direction stress was concentrated at electrode tip. The y direction maximum stress was decreased to 4.9$\times10^ 7 N/m^2$ with internal electrode gap(a) until 0.4 mm and was not much difference with external electrode thickness(c). The stress distribution with internal layers was almost same and the stress distribution of load condition was higher than that of no load condition The y direction maximum stress increased with the number of layer and saturated at 260 layers. In the case of defective actuator, the stress distribution was disconnected around the defect and larger than that of normal actuator.