Coupled refined layerwise theory for dynamic free and forced response of piezoelectric laminated composite and sandwich beams

Abstract

This work extends a previously presented coupled refined layerwise theory to dynamic analysis of piezoelectric laminated composite and sandwich beams. Contrary to most of the available theories, all the kinematic and stress boundary conditions are satisfied at the interfaces of the piezoelectric layers with the non-zero longitudinal electric field. Moreover, both electrical transverse normal strains and transverse flexibility are taken into account for the first time in the present theory. In the presented formulation a high-order polynomial, an exponential expression and a layerwise term containing the electric field are included in the describing expression of the in-plane displacement of the beam. For the transverse displacement, the coupled refined model uses a combination of continuous piecewise fourth-order polynomials with a layerwise representation of electrical unknowns. The electric field is also approximated as linear across the thickness direction of piezoelectric layers. One of advantages of the present theory is that the mechanical number of the unknown parameters is very small and is independent of the number of the layers. For validation of the proposed model, various free and forced vibration tests for thin and thick laminated/sandwich piezoelectric beams are carried out. For various electrical and mechanical boundary conditions, excellent correlation has been found between the results obtained from the proposed formulation with those resulted from the three-dimensional theory of piezoelasticity.