Stress wave propagation in piezoelectric fiber reinforced laminated composites subjected to thermal shock

This paper presents an analytical solution for stress wave propagation in piezoelectric fiber reinforced laminated composites subjected to thermal shock loading. The thermoelectrodynamic equation for each separate material layer is solved by means of finite Hankel transforms and Laplace transforms. Then by using the interface continuity conditions between the piezoelectric fiber layer and the matrix layer, and the boundary condition at the external surface of the piezoelectric fiber reinforced laminated composite the unknown constants are determined. Thus, an exact solution for stress wave propagation in piezoelectric fiber reinforced laminated composites subjected to thermal shock loading is obtained. From the exact analytical expression and the corresponding numerical example, this paper reveals some phenomena of the dynamic focusing effect of a piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite laminated cylinder subjected to thermal shock of a transitory temperature change. The dynamic focusing effect gives rise to very higher tensile stress magnitudes and electric potential at the center of the piezoelectric fiber, which easily results in a fracture along the axial direction of the piezoelectric fiber at the higher tensile stress region. It is important to know the mechanism of the dynamic focusing effect of the piezoelectric fiber reinforced laminated composites to evaluate the dynamic strength and electric signal of the composite systems. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.