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A method of manufacturing a fiber assembly, the method comprising: (a) providing a plurality of layers, each layer comprising sintered fibers of piezoelectric material aligned substantially parallel; (b) laminating the plurality of layers; and (c) applying a matrix material to the laminated layers t

A method of manufacturing a fiber assembly, the method comprising: (a) providing a plurality of layers, each layer comprising sintered fibers of piezoelectric material aligned substantially parallel; (b) laminating the plurality of layers; and (c) applying a matrix material to the laminated layers to affix the layers and form a fiber assembly.

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1. A method of manufacturing a fiber assembly, said method comprising: providing a plurality of planar layers, each layer comprising sintered fibers of piezoelectric material aligned substantially parallel; arranging said plurality of planar layers in a side-by-side relationship such that the pl

1. A method of manufacturing a fiber assembly, said method comprising: providing a plurality of planar layers, each layer comprising sintered fibers of piezoelectric material aligned substantially parallel; arranging said plurality of planar layers in a side-by-side relationship such that the planes of the planar layers are substantially parallel; and applying a matrix material to the arranged layers to affix said layers and form a fiber assembly. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sectioning a portion from said fiber assembly. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said portion has two opposing surfaces and contains fibers that are substantially normal to said opposing surfaces. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein said portion has two opposing surfaces and contains fiber that are substantially parallel to said opposing surfaces. 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising: applying at least one electrode to each opposing surface. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein a plurality of interdigitized electrodes are applied. 7. The method of claim 2, further comprising poling said sectioned portion. 8. The method of claim 2, wherein each opposing side of said portion has an area greater than about 1.5 cm2. 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the variation of fiber concentration in no greater than about 20%/cm3. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein arranging said planar layers comprises interleaving planar layers of varying fiber characteristics. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said layers of varying fiber characteristics have different fiber concentrations. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein said layers of varying fiber characteristics have fibers of different average diameters. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein a different set of electrodes is applied to said layers of varying fiber characteristics. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said layers have substantially similar fiber characteristics. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric material is at least one of PZT (lead zirconium titanate), lead niobate (PbNbO6), lead titanate (PbTiO3), barium titanate (BaTiO3), sodium bismoth titanate (pure or co-doped), lead-based ceramics doped with lanthanum, tin, or niobium, electrostrictive materials, memory piezoelectric materials, or relaxor materials.