Static and dynamic analyses of FGPM cylindrical shells with quadratic thermal gradient distribution

Abstract

Functionally graded material (FGM) has great potential in the application of thin-walled structures, since delamination failure can be suppressed. Functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) is a special kind of FGM, which couples with elastic and electric fields. The modeling of FGPM coupled smart structures under nonlinear thermal load is still a challenge task. This paper develops an electro-thermo-elastic finite element (FE) model of FGPM integrated smart structures based on the first-order shear deformation hypothesis. The FE model proposes two different nonlinear configurations of thermal gradient distribution through the thickness, which are compared with linear thermal gradient distribution. An eight-node quadrilateral shell element is developed for finite element analysis. The present FE model is firstly validated by a PVDF bimorph beam under nonlinear thermal loads. Later, the model is applied to the static and dynamic simulation of FGPM cylindrical shells. The results show that thermal distribution configurations have great impact on structural response, which should be carefully chosen in the simulation of thermal coupled problems.