Modeling and validation of induced strain actuation of composite coupled plates

A consistent plate finite element model is formulated for coupled composite plates with induced strain actuation and validated with test data obtained from cantilevered isotropic and anisotropic plates, Actuators are modeled as additional plies fully integrated into substrate laminae, and the formul ation is based on modified thin classical laminated-plate theory. The analy sis is formulated for a generic anisotropic plate with a number of piezoact uators of arbitrary size, surface-bonded or embedded at arbitrary locations . Composite plates with extension-twist and bending-twist couplings were bu ilt and tested. Two rows of piezoceramic elements are surface mounted on bo th top and bottom surfaces near the root. Static tests are carried out usin g induced strain actuation, and mechanical loading and measured data are co rrelated with predictions for bending and twist distributions. For an exten sion-twist coupled plate, the agreement between predicted and measured indu ced twist due to extensional strain with piezoactuation is excellent. For t he strongly bending-twist coupled composite plate, the predicted induced tw ist due to bending strain with piezoactuation agreed well in trends, but ma gnitudes were underpredicted by a maximum of 20% from measured values. For the weakly bending twist coupled composite plate, the predicted induced twi st angle agreed extremely well with measured data, The modeling and validat ion results show the usability of the piezoactuation in the field of plate shape control.