Alleviation of deformation of cylindrical shell using piezoelectric rings

A methodology for alleviating the deformation of cylindrical shells has bee n developed. The basic idea is to use piezoelectric ring stiffeners bonded to the surface of the shell to stiffen and counteract the deformation cause d by external lends such as gravity, internal pressure, and temperature cha nge. The function of the piezoelectric ring stiffeners may be realized by t heir stiffening effects and, more importantly, through their electrically i nduced strains causing pressure on the surface of the shell. These strains can, at desirable locations, produce adjustable deformations in the opposit e direction of the deformations caused by external lending. Conventional di fferential equations governing displacements of linearly elastic cylindrica l shells are used. For computer simulation, a simply supported thin cylindr ical shell having 18 piezoelectric ring stiffeners bonded to its outer surf ace along the length of the shell is considered. Deformations along two gen eratrices of the shell are computed to demonstrate the effect of alleviatio n Since the deformation produced by an individual ring stiffener depends on the magnitude and polarity of the applied voltage, it is possible to count eract deformations caused by any other type of loading. The simulated resul ts for illustration show that the deformation of cylindrical shells can be effectively alleviated.