Static structural response of plates with piezoceramic layers

Abstract

A finite element formulation is developed to analyze laminated plates with arbitrarily placed piezoceramic patches. However, only isotropic layered plates are analyzed as illustrative examples because of the primary emphasis on the effect of piezoceramic patch shapes. The technique is applied to obtain static response and stress fields due to the application of electric field to the piezoceramic patches. Different shapes of piezoceramic patches are inserted in a square aluminium plate. The actuation stress fields due to the piezoceramic patches are discussed in detail. It is observed that the shape of the patches has a direct effect on the stress field within the patch and in the surrounding material. The choice of the shape of the patches depends on the desired stress field, however, sharp corners should be avoided. The circular patch is subjected to the in-plane hydrostatic stress field. The stresses are homogeneous in the elliptical patch. The stresses are higher near the edges of the square and rectangular patches.