PIEZOTHERMOELASTIC COMPOSITE PLATE ANALYSIS USING 1ST-ORDER SHEAR DEFORMATION-THEORY

The response of composite plates constructed of graphite/epoxy laminae with an attached piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride layer subjecte d to mechanical, thermal and electric field loading is considered for various length-to-depth and aspect ratios. First-order shear deformati on theory is extended to include the piezothermoelastic response of co mposite plate structures. Analytic results are obtained for a plate si mply supported along all edges. A nine-node Lagrangian finite element formulation is established and results are presented for simply suppor ted or fixed boundary conditions. Numerical results show that moderate ly thick piezothermoelastic composites are sensitive to shear deformat ion, but increasing plate aspect ratio reduces the shear deformation i nfluence.