Optimal Design of Smart Laminated Composite Structures

Abstract

A new optimization problem for laminated multilayered structures having surface bounded piezoelectric (PZT) patches have been formulated and solved. The present formulation introduces boundaries of PZT patches as new class of design variables. In addition, classical design variables in the form of ply orientation angles of orthotropic layers are also taken into account. The design objective is the minimization of normal maximal deflections. The standard Rayleigh–Ritz method is used; however, the accuracy of optimal design are verified with the aid of the FE package ABAQUS. Examples are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed model. For the actuator/actuator configuration, it was shown that the PZT actuators can significantly reduce deformations of the composite plate. Those effects were dependent on the value of the applied voltage. It was demonstrated that the proper choice of the actuator form is more efficient in reducing deflections. The influence of the fiber orientation and their material properties on the optimal design is also presented and discussed. The growth of the plate geometrical ratio a/b results in the increase of the effectiveness of the optimization procedure based on the appropriate choice of the boundary curve of the PZT patch.

Keywords:

• Actuators
• Composite structures
• Optimal design