Recent Developments in Modelling and Design of Laminated and Piezolaminated Structures by the Finite Strip Method

Abstract

In this work, recent developments on the use of the general spline finite strip method in the analysis and optimal design of laminated structures with embedded and/or surface bonded piezoelectric actuators and sensors are presented. The finite strip models are developed using the third-order plate theory, and they are applied to the static and free vibration analyses of laminated adaptive structures with arbitrary layups, loading and boundary conditions. As a special case of the third-order plate theory the simpler and computational efficient strip finite element model based on the first-order shear deformation theory is obtained. These models are combined with a stochastic global optimization technique called simulated annealing to improve the performance of the composite adaptive structures subjected to a variety of objective functions and/or constraints and with discrete and continuous design variables. The capabilities of these models are illustrated by two examples of simple adaptive structures.