A review of theoretical developments in thermopiezoelasticity having releva
nce to smart composite structures is presented. The equations governing lin
ear response of piezothermoelastic media are outlined, and a general soluti
on procedure based on potential functions is described. Sensor applications
aimed at predicting thermal loads and corresponding responses from measure
ments of electric potential distributions are described; studies on the con
trol of composite structures (beams, plates and shells) via piezoelectric a
ctuation are reviewed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.