Analytical geometrical responses in large deflection of simply supported piezoelectric layered plate under initial tension

Abstract

The analytical geometrical responses in large deflection of a simply supported and layered piezoelectric circular plate under initial tension due to lateral pressure are presented. The approach follows von Karman plate theory for large deflection with a consideration of a symmetrically laminated case including a piezoelectric layer. The related nonlinear governing equations are derived in a non‐dimensional form and are simplified by neglecting the arising nonlinear terms, yielding a modified Bessel equation or a standard Bessel equation for the lateral slope. The associated analytical solutions are developed by imposing the simply supported edge conditions of the problem. For a 3‐layered nearly monolithic plate under a low pretension and a low applied voltage upon the piezoelectric layer, the results agree well with those obtained by using the classical plate theory for a single‐layered plate under pure mechanical loading, and thus the developed approach is validated. Typical 3‐layered piezoelectric plates are then implemented and the results show that, no apparent edge effect was found for the present problem. In additions, a piezoelectric effect appears to be present only up to a moderate initial tension. For a relatively high pretension, the tension effect tends to be dominant, resulting in nearly the same results for the geometrical responses, regardless of the magnitude of the applied voltage.