Closed-form elasticity solution for smart curved sandwich panels with soft core

Abstract

Due to the rapid development of intelligent engineering structure, the demand for high performance smart structures has been increased in recent years. In this paper, an exact elasticity solution for bending analysis of sandwich panel with generally orthotropic facings and core is developed. Two electro-orthotropic piezoelectric layers in the top and bottom surfaces of sandwich panel as sensor and actuator are considered. From practical point of view, an initially curved sectorial geometry is considered for smart sandwich panel. In this regard, the constitutive relations and governing equations are considered in polar coordinate and coupled Euler–Cauchy Equations are derived. The characteristic equations are determined and closed-form basis functions of displacements and stresses are achieved for various material and geometrical conditions. Furthermore, based on classical and first-order shell theories, the governing equations of smart curved sandwich panels are derived. The governing equations are solved analytically and compared with exact elasticity solution. Several parametric studies are performed on both material and geometrical properties such as angular span, facing and core thickness, and external electrical voltage.