Analytical Modeling and Equivalent Electromechanical Loading Techniques for Adaptive Laminated Piezoelectric Structures

Many commercial finite element programs support piezoelectric modeling and composite modeling to some extent. The popular program ABAQUS, however, has piezoelectric modeling capabilities only for continuum and one-dimensional truss elements. In situations where aspect ratio constraints and computational inefficiencies become a significant issue, such as modeling very large thin structures, alternate modeling techniques are sometimes required. Much of the focus of this thesis was to introduce equivalent methods for modeling laminated piezoelectric beams and plates. Techniques are derived based on classical beam and plate theory, classical lamination theory, and the linear theory of piezoelectricity. Finite element approximations are used with the principle of minimum potential energy to derive the static equilibrium equations for piezoelectric laminated structures. Equivalent loading techniques are derived based on the constitutive equations of piezoelectricity to simulate actuation forces within the piezoelectric layers. Finite element models using equivalent modeling techniques as well as equivalent loading techniques for piezoelectric laminated structures are developed and compared to ABAQUS models using piezoelectric elements to evaluate the error in theoretical assumptions. The analysis will prove that equivalent structural models and equivalent loading techniques provide excellent means for simplifying the analysis of thin piezoelectric laminated structures.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2001

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Clayton L.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Inman, Daniel J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Leo, Donald J.
• Austin, Eric M.

• Finite element method
• Piezoelectric
• Laminated

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-02062001-101444

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/31145