A balanced laminate of piezoelectric fiber composite for improved shear piezoelectric actuation of beams

Abstract

A new balanced laminate of piezoelectric fiber composite (PFC) is presented for the improved shear mode piezoelectric actuation of beams. A micromechanics formulation is first presented for determination of its effective electromechanical properties, and then its shear actuation capability is investigated by means of utilizing it for actuation of bending deformation of a smart sandwich beam. The results reveal an indicatively higher shear actuation capability of the present balanced laminate of PFC over that of the monolithic shear piezoelectric actuators, and thus this laminate of PFC may be a potential material for shear piezoelectric actuators in control of flexible structures.

Keywords:

• Piezoelectric fiber composite
• balanced laminate
• shear piezoelectric composite actuator
• piezoelectric actuation
• smart sandwich beam
• smart structures