Enhancement of pre-buckling behavior of composite beams with geometric imperfections using piezoelectric actuators

The non-linear behavior of slightly crooked slender composite beams with pi ezoelectric actuators is addressed. Von Karman non-linear strain-displaceme nt relations and linear constitutive relations for both the piezoelectric a nd composite materials are used. The piezoelectric control of crooked beams subjected to axial compression renders its equilibrium path as close as po ssible to that of the ideal perfect beam. A modal analysis demonstrates tha t, through the application of suitable voltages to the actuators, the elimi nation of certain buckling mode contributions to the beam response is feasi ble and highly desirable. The equilibrium path of imperfect structures is s hown to be dramatically changed via piezoelectric control; this has potenti al applications in the post-buckling of structures with negative slope of t he secondary equilibrium path. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.