GENERALIZED FINITE-ELEMENT FORMULATION FOR SMART MULTILAYERED THERMALPIEZOELECTRIC COMPOSITE PLATES

Analytical formulations are presented which account for the coupled me chanical, electrical-and thermal response of piezoelectric composite l aminates and plate structures. A robust layerwise theory is formulated with the inherent capability to explicitly model the active and senso ry response of piezoelectric composite plates having general laminatio ns in thermal environments. Finite element equations are derived and i mplemented for a bilinear 4-noded plate element. Applications demonstr ate the capability to manage thermally induced bending and twisting de formations in symmetric and antisymmetric composite plates with piezoe lectric actuators and attain thermal stability. The resultant stresses in the thermal piezoelectric composite laminates are also investigate d. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.