Abstract
In this work, piezoelectric (PZT) actuators were surface bonded on or embedded in a composite laminate and subjected to an electric voltage across the thickness, resulting in a bending effect on the composite laminate. An analytical expression of the deflection of a simply supported cross-ply composite laminate induced by distributed piezoelectric actuators was derived on the basis of classical plate theory and composite mechanics. The theoretical solution can be used to predict the deformation of the composite laminate. Series of parametric studies were performed to investigate the effects of location, size, and embedded depth of PZT actuators on the composite laminate deformation. The analytical predictions were verified with finite element results. A close agreement was achieved. It demonstrated that the present approach provided a simple solution to predict and control the deformed shape of a composite laminate induced by distributed PZT actuators.
Highlights
Composite materials provide properties that cannot be obtained by their constituents alone.Some of the properties that can be enhanced by forming a composite material are high specific stiffness, light weight, good corrosion and wear resistances, and long fatigue life
We extended present approach to distributed PZT actuators
The deformation of a composite laminate plate induced by PZT actuators was investigated
Summary
Composite materials provide properties that cannot be obtained by their constituents alone. Zhang et al [21] developed nonlinear finite element (FE) models using various nonlinear shell theories based on the first-order shear deformation (FOSD) hypothesis for shape and vibration control of structures undergoing large displacements and rotations. Their results show that, by applying an appropriate voltage, a desired shape can be achieved, as well as the vibration can be significantly suppressed. Gohari et al [24] presented an explicit analytical solution based on the linear piezoelectricity and plate theories for obtaining twisting deformation and optimal shape control of smart laminated cantilever composite plates/beams using inclined piezoelectric actuators. Composite laminate can be effectively activated by distributed PZT actuators
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