MIXED LAMINATE THEORY AND FINITE-ELEMENT FOR SMART PIEZOELECTRIC COMPOSITE SHELL STRUCTURES

Mechanics for the analysis of laminated composite shells with piezoele ctric actuators and sensors are presented, A new mixed laminate theory for piezoelectric shells is developed in curvilinear coordinates that combines single-layer assumptions for the displacements and a layerwi se representation for the electric potential. The resultant coupled go verning equations for curvilinear piezoelectric laminates are describe d, Structural mechanics are subsequently developed and an eight-node f inite element is formulated for the static and dynamic analysis of ada ptive composite shell structures of general laminations containing pie zoelectric layers. Evaluations of the method and comparisons with repo rted results were performed, Numerical results for cylindrical laminat ed piezoelectric composite panels with continuous piezoceramic actuato rs and cantilever shells with continuous or discrete piezoelectric act uators and sensors illustrate the advantages of the method and quantif y the effects of curvature on the electromechanical response of piezoe lectric shells.