DISTRIBUTED STRUCTURAL ACTUATION WITH ELECTROSTRICTORS

In this paper a non-linear framework is developed of the dynamic behav ior of a system with distributed electrostrictive coupling. A framewor k for the derivation of the governing equations is presented which is sufficiently general to model the dynamics of a broad range of non-lin ear systems. The constitutive relations for electrostrictors are devel oped in terms of the standard quadratic function and the hyperbolic ta ngent squared function of the applied electric field. Non-linear coupl ed equations of motion are derived by introducing the constitutive rel ations into Hamilton's Principle. Approximate system equations are der ived using the assumed mode method. Experimental validation of the equ ations is accomplished by examining the static and dynamic response of a cantilevered beam actuated with a distributed electrostrictive actu ator. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.