Finite-element modeling of a smart cantilever plate and comparison with experiments

• Published in: Smart materials and structures Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 165 - 170
• Main Authors: Kim, Jaehwan, Varadan, Vasundara V, Varadan, Vijay K, Bao, Xiao-Qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.04.1996; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Physics; Solid mechanics; Static elasticity; Static elasticity (thermoelasticity...); Structural and continuum mechanics; Finite element method; Three dimensional model; Active system; Cantilever plate; Piezoelectricity; Numerical method; Cantilever; Experimental study; Monitoring control system; Intelligent system
• ISSN: 0964-1726; 1361-665X
• DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/5/2/005

The behavior of a cantilever plate instrumented with a piezoelectric sensor and actuator is described using finite-element modeling. To demonstrate the accuracy of the numerical model, a parallel experimental study was carried out in the laboratory for the same geometric dimensions. The two results are compared and show excellent agreement, demonstrating that finite-element modeling is a good approach for optimized smart structure design. A 3D finite-element formulation is employed in the piezoelectric material region and a small neighboring region of the plate structure on which it is mounted. Shell elements, approximated by many flat-shell elements, are used in modeling the remaining part of the plate structure. Transition elements that connect the 3D solid elements to the flat-shell element are used. For the cantilever plate example, the electrical input admittance and the sensor response are found from the finite-element analysis, and they are compared with experimental measurements. From this, the accuracy and efficiency of this approach are demonstrated. (Author)