Active compensation of thermally induced bending and twisting in piezoceramic composite plates

Abstract

Previously developed analytical formulations are extended to incorporate thermal effects in order to account for the coupled mechanical, electrical, and thermal response of piezoelectric composite laminates and plate structures. A layerwise laminate theory is developed with the inherent capability to model both the active and sensory responses of piezoelectric composite plates with general laminations, and is implemented for a bilinear 4-noded plate element. Numerical results demonstrate the capability to actively manage the thermally induced bending and twisting deformation in symmetric and antisymmetric composite plates with piezoelectric actuators. Results from the current formulation are also compared with previous data. The predicted corresponding response of piezoelectric sensors and the resultant interlaminar and intralaminar stresses in the piezoelectric composite laminate are also investigated.