Thermal, electrical, mechanical coupled mechanics for initial buckling analysis of smart plates and beams using discrete layer kinematics

Abstract

Non-linear behavior of smart structures is of interest to researchers due to the possibilities for the elaboration of more effective actuators and sensors based on piezoelectric materials. The aim of the present work, is to present an integrated approach for the buckling behavior of smart beams and plates under multiple loading conditions. In order to present an accurate analysis, a coupled constitutive formulation between thermal, electrical and mechanical fields is elaborated incorporating non-linearity due to large displacements. An 8-node plate element was implemented in combination with discrete layer kinematics (LW) for the through-the-thickness representation of the structure. The issues of the critical buckling load under different electrical conditions as well as thermal and electrical loading are also presented. Experimental results contribute to the verification of the accuracy of the numerical analysis results and of the coupling mechanics in general.

New generalized plane strain FE formulation for the buckling analysis of piezocomposite beam

“…The beam is a three layer [pzt/Al/pzt] composite that is 70 mm long and 5 mm wide. The Table 1 along with the experimental and LWFEA results published by Giannopoulos et al Table 1 shows good agreement between the present analysis results and the experimental results published by Giannopoulos et al [7] for both open and closed circuit electrical conditions. The discrepancy between the present analysis results and the LWFEA results published by Giannopoulos et al [7] can be attributed to the difference in element type used in the present analysis and in the study of Giannopoulos et al [7].…”

“…The Table 1 along with the experimental and LWFEA results published by Giannopoulos et al Table 1 shows good agreement between the present analysis results and the experimental results published by Giannopoulos et al [7] for both open and closed circuit electrical conditions. The discrepancy between the present analysis results and the LWFEA results published by Giannopoulos et al [7] can be attributed to the difference in element type used in the present analysis and in the study of Giannopoulos et al [7]. Giannopoulos et al [7] have used plate element with layer wise kinematics (LWFEA); on the other hand we have used 8 noded plane element and the finite element model is the longitudinal cross section of the beam as required by the present formulation.…”

“…The discrepancy between the present analysis results and the LWFEA results published by Giannopoulos et al [7] can be attributed to the difference in element type used in the present analysis and in the study of Giannopoulos et al [7]. Giannopoulos et al [7] have used plate element with layer wise kinematics (LWFEA); on the other hand we have used 8 noded plane element and the finite element model is the longitudinal cross section of the beam as required by the present formulation.…”

“…In order to validate the developed FE solver, the physical dimensions, and boundary condition and material properties of the beam used by Giannopoulos et al [7] have been used in the present analysis. The beam is a three layer [pzt/Al/pzt] composite that is 70 mm long and 5 mm wide.…”

“…Varelis and Saravanos [5] presented a finite element formulation for piezoelectric laminated plates, which includes nonlinear effects due to large displacements and rotations, and carried out linear buckling analysis (by neglecting the nonlinear stiffness matrix) as well as pre-and postbuckling analysis of plates [6]. Giannopoulos et al [7] presented a coupled formulation between thermal, electrical and mechanical fields incorporating nonlinearity due to large displacements and solved for linear buckling by neglecting the nonlinear stiffness matrix.…”