Coupled buckling and postbuckling analysis of active laminated piezoelectric composite plates

• Published in: International journal of solids and structures Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 1519 - 1538
• Main Authors: Varelis, Dimitris, Saravanos, Dimitris A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2004
• Subjects: Actuators; Adaptive structures; Buckling; Composite; Laminated; Nonlinear; Piezoelectric; Plates; Sensors; Adaptive structures; Actuators; Nonlinear; Composite; Sensors; Buckling; Laminated; Plates; Piezoelectric
• ISSN: 0020-7683; 1879-2146
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2003.09.034

A theoretical framework for analyzing the pre- and postbuckling response of composite laminates and plates with piezoactuators and sensors is presented. The mechanics include nonlinear effects due to large rotations and stress stiffening, and are incorporated into a coupled mixed-field piezoelectric laminate theory. Using the previous mechanics, a nonlinear finite element method and an incremental-iterative solution are formulated for the analysis of nonlinear adaptive plate structures subject to in-plane electromechanical loading. A novel eight-node nonlinear plate finite element is also developed. Evaluation cases predict the buckling and postbuckling response of adaptive composite beams and plates with piezoelectric actuators and sensors. The case of piezoelectric buckling and postbuckling induced by the actuators is addressed and quantified. Finally, the possibility to actively mitigate the mechanical buckling and postbuckling response of adaptive piezocomposite plates is illustrated.