Abstract: An arrangement for mounting one end of a piezoelectric element operating in a bending mode about the one end to generate essentially linear movement for a part of a moving component operatively attached to the other end characterized by a support strip adjacent a side of the element at the point of mounting and extending parallel along the element to modify the stresses applied to the element during a bending operation to prevent damage thereto. The piezoelectric element comprises a carrier strip having at least one side in contact with a ceramic strip or layer and the support strip is disposed adjacent the one end to modify the stresses applied to the ceramic strip to prevent damage thereto. The support strip is provided with a shape and size so that the maximum stress applied to the element occur at a point removed from the point of mounting.