Flexoelectric and surface effects on bending deformation and vibration of piezoelectric nanolaminates: analytical solutions

Abstract

In this paper, a model of double-layer rectangular piezoelectric nanolaminates with different upper and lower surface properties is established. The bending and vibration behavior of the piezoelectric nanolaminates are evaluated and analyzed, taking into consideration the flexoelectric and surface effects. Utilizing the surface piezoelectric model, flexoelectric theory, and Kirchhoff plate theory, this study provides analytical solutions for the bending deflection and natural frequency of rectangular piezoelectric nanolamination materials under various boundary conditions. The results indicate that the effects of flexoelectric and surface influences on piezoelectric nanolaminates are associated with residual surface stress and flexoelectric coefficients. These effects can enhance the bending stiffness and decrease the natural frequency of the piezoelectric nanolaminates. Furthermore, altering the residual stress on the upper and lower surfaces of the laminates separately will result in different trends in bending deflection, while causing a consistent trend in natural frequency change. When the electric potential direction of piezoelectric nanolaminates is different, the bending deflection of piezoelectric nanolaminates will change accordingly. The natural frequency of piezoelectric nanolaminates is determined by the absolute value of the flexoelectric coefficients, and is independent of their positive or negative values. Both the surface effect and the flexoelectric effect are influenced by size-dependent behaviors. When the thickness of the laminates is sufficiently large, both the surface effect and flexoelectric effect can be disregarded. This paper's research methods and results provide theoretical models and analytical methods for the microstructure design, multi-physical field characterization, and bending deformation behavior of intelligent components containing rectangular piezoelectric nanolaminates.