Previously developed discrete layer mechanics are extended to incorpor
ate thermal effects to account for the complete coupled mechanical, el
ectrical, and thermal response of piezoelectric composite beams, Therm
al effects in both the elastic and piezoelectric media are captured at
the material level. This unified representation leads to an inherent
capability to model both the sensory and active responses of piezoelec
tric composite beams in thermal environments. Finite element equations
are developed and implemented for a beam element with linear shape fu
nctions, Results from the current formulation are compared with result
s from a conventional thermoelastic finite element analysis and classi
cal beam theory. Additional numerical studies demonstrate capabilities
of the current formulation to predict the thermal deformation of comp
osite beams, as well as the active compensation of these thermal defor
mations using piezoelectric structures, The corresponding sensory resp
onse and the resultant stress state in the piezoelectric composite bea
m are also presented.