A higher order temperature theory for coupled thermo-piezoelectric-mechanical modeling of smart composites

Abstract

A higher order temperature field that satisfies the thermal surface boundary conditions, necessary for accurate modeling of temperature distribution through the thickness of laminated structures, is developed. The theory is implemented in the coupled thermo-piezoelectric-mechanical analysis of composite laminates with surface bonded piezoelectric actuators. A higher order displacement theory is used to define the mechanical displacement field. Therefore, transverse shear effects are modeled accurately and the developed procedure is applicable to both thin and moderately thick laminates. The mathematical model is implemented using finite element technique. Numerical results are presented for a composite laminated plate, with one edge fixed, subjected to thermal loading. Correlations with ANSYS, for both the temperature field and the displacement field, are presented to validate the higher order temperature theory. Composite laminates of various stacking sequences are studied to investigate the effects on temperature field and displacement field. The results obtained using the coupled theory are compared with those obtained using the standard uncoupled theory. It is shown that thermal coupling affects plate deflection and control authority due to actuation.