STATIC ANALYSIS OF AN INTELLIGENT STRUCTURE BY THE FINITE-ELEMENT METHOD

Static analysis of an intelligent structure, i.e., a structure integra ted with distributed actuators and sensors, is presented by the finite element method. The distributed actuator and sensor layers are made o f a piezoelectric polymer called PVDF and are perfectly bonded to the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate of the intelligent structure. The substrate is a laminated rectangular plate, composed of a graphit e/epoxy composite material. In order to demonstrate the distributed ac tuation and sensing the overall structure is considered as the plies o f the laminated plate. A two-dimensional eight-noded isoparametric fin ite element is derived for modeling the distributed coupled electromec hanical behavior using higher order displacement theory. To verify the accuracy of the finite element modeling the results obtained by the p resent finite element method for a given distributed mechanical load a nd with or without describing the electric potential on the surface of the actuator are compared with the exact solution.