Modeling of composite beams with integrated piezoelectric actuators: A natural mode approach

This paper deals with modeling and shape control of laminated composite beams with integrated piezoelectric actuators. The model is valid for both continuous and segmented piezoelectric elements that are surface bonded or embedded in the laminated beam. The mass and the stiffness of the piezoelectric patches are taken into account. Voltages applied to the actuators are assumed to be specified and not considered as additional degrees of freedom. A computationally efficient finite element code is developed to calculate the changes in shape for specified applied voltages. The numerical model is based on Argyris' natural mode finite element method which is free of sheer locking problems and applicable for both thin and moderately thick beams. We show here that the shape of the composite beam can be piezoelectrically controlled to significantly enhance its mechanical performance; this has interesting applications in active or smart structures. The accuracy of the model and the computer code is validated with available numerical results in the literature. Several parametric studies are conducted to demonstrate the influence of beam geometry and boundary conditions on the change in shape of laminated beams with piezoelectric actuators.