Active control of FGM plates subjected to a temperature gradient: Modelling via finite element method based on FSDT

An efficient finite element formulation based on a first‐order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is presented for the active control of functionally gradient material (FGM) plates with integrated piezoelectric sensor/actuator layers subjected to a thermal gradient; this is accomplished using both static and dynamic piezothermoelastic analyses. The formulation based on FSDT can be applied to a range of relatively thin‐to‐moderately thick plates. A constant displacement‐cum‐velocity feedback control algorithm coupling the direct and inverse piezoelectric effects is applied to provide active feedback control of the integrated FGM plate in a self‐monitoring and self‐controlling system. Numerical results for the control of bending and torsional deflections and/or vibrations are presented for a FGM plate comprising zirconia and aluminium. The effects of constituent volume fraction and the influence of feedback control gain on the static and dynamic responses of the FGM plates are examined in detail. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element modeling of active control of functionally graded shells in frequency domain via piezoelectric sensors and actuators

 A flat-shell element is presented for the active control of functionally graded material (FGM) shells through integrated piezoelectric sensor/actuator layers. The finite element formulation based on first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) can be applied to shells ranging from relatively thin to moderately thick dimensions. A constant gain displacement and velocity feedback control algorithm coupling the direct and inverse piezoelectric effects is applied to provide active control of the integrated FGM shell in a self-monitoring and self-controlling system. Frequency response characteristics of the FGM shell containing the piezoelectric sensors/actuators are analyzed in the frequency domain. The effects of constituent volume fraction and the influence of feedback control gain values on the dynamic responses of the FGM shell system are examined in detail. Received 13 November 2000     

A FEM model for the active control of curved FGM shells using piezoelectric sensor/actuator layers

In this paper, a generic finite element formulation is developed for the static and dynamic control of FGM (functionally graded material) shells with piezoelectric sensor and actuator layers. The properties of the FGM shell are graded in the thickness direction according to a volume fraction power‐law distribution. The proposed finite element model is based on variational principle and linear piezoelectricity theory. A constant displacement and velocity feedback control algorithm coupling the direct and inverse piezoelectric effects is applied in a closed‐loop system to provide feedback control of the integrated FGM shell structure. Both static and dynamic control of FGM shells are simulated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed active control scheme within a framework of finite element discretization and piezoelectric integration. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonlinear free and forced vibration behavior of functionally graded plate with piezoelectric layers in thermal environment

In the present study, finite element formulation based on higher order shear deformation plate theory is developed to analyze nonlinear natural frequencies, time and frequency responses of functionally graded plate with surface-bonded piezoelectric layers under thermal, electrical and mechanical loads. The von Karman nonlinear strain–displacement relationship is used to account for the large deflection of the plate. The material properties of functionally graded material (FGM) are assumed temperature-dependent. The temperature field has uniform distribution over the plate surface and varies in the thickness direction. The considered electric field only has non-zero-valued component E_z. Numerical results are presented to study effects of FGM volume fraction exponent, applied voltage in piezoelectric layers, thermal load and vibration amplitude on nonlinear natural frequencies and time response of FGM plate with integrated piezoelectric layers. In addition, nonlinear frequency response diagrams of the plate are presented and effects of different parameters such as FGM volume fraction exponent, temperature gradient, and piezoelectric voltage are investigated.     

A meshfree radial point interpolation method for analysis of functionally graded material (FGM) plates

A meshfree model is presented for the static and dynamic analyses of functionally graded material (FGM) plates based on the radial point interpolation method (PIM). In the present method, the mid-plane of an FGM plate is represented by a set of distributed nodes while the material properties in its thickness direction are computed analytically to take into account their continuous variations from one surface to another. Several examples are successfully analyzed for static deflections, natural frequencies and dynamic responses of FGM plates with different volume fraction exponents and boundary conditions. The convergence rate and accuracy are studied and compared with the finite element method (FEM). The effects of the constituent fraction exponent on static deflection as well as natural frequency are also investigated in detail using different FGM models. Based on the current material gradient, it is found that as the volume fraction exponent increases, the mechanical characteristics of the FGM plate approach those of the pure metal plate blended in the FGM.     

Optimal shape control of functionally graded smart plates using genetic algorithms

This paper deals with optimal shape control of functionally graded smart plate containing patches of piezoelectric sensors and actuators. The genetic algorithm (GA) is designed to search for optimal actuator voltage and displacement control gains for the shape control of the functionally graded material (FGM) plates. The work extends the earlier finite element formulations of the two leading authors, so that it can be readily treated using genetic algorithms. Numerical results have been obtained to study the effect of the shape control of the FGM plates under a temperature gradient by optimising (i) the voltage distribution for the open loop control, and (ii) the displacement control gain values for the closed loop feedback control. The effect of the constituent volume fractions of zirconia, through varying the volume fraction exponent n, on the optimal voltages and gain values has also been examined.     

基于样条无网格法的厚/薄压电功能梯度板动力分析

在将板的挠度和剪切应变作为场变量的基础上增加考虑面内位移,采用样条无网格法建立了热环境下厚/薄压电功能梯度板动力分析新的计算格式。考虑功能梯度材料的物性参数随温度改变以及温度变化引起的面内力,讨论了压电FGM板在不同边界约束下材料梯度指数变化时,面内位移及面内力对热环境下压电功能梯度板的动力特性和动力响应的影响。分析结果表明,新建立的模型对厚/薄压电功能梯度板动力分析具有通用性和有效性,没有剪切闭锁现象,且计算效率和计算精度较高。     

Nonlinear thermal bending response of FGM plates due to heat conduction

Nonlinear thermal bending analysis is presented for a simply supported, shear deformable functionally graded plate without or with piezoelectric actuators subjected to the combined action of thermal and electrical loads. Heat conduction and temperature-dependent material properties are both taken into account. The temperature field considered is assumed to be a uniform distribution over the plate surface and varied in the thickness direction and the electric field considered only has non-zero-valued component E_Z. The material properties of functionally graded materials (FGMs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents, and the material properties of both FGM and piezoelectric layers are assumed to be temperature-dependent. The governing equations of an FGM plate are based on a higher order shear deformation plate theory that includes thermo-piezoelectric effects. A two step perturbation technique is employed to determine the thermal load–deflection and thermal load–bending moment curves. The numerical illustrations concern nonlinear bending response of FGM plates without or with surface bonded piezoelectric actuators due to heat conduction and under different sets of electric loading conditions. The results reveal that for the case of heat conduction the nonlinear thermal bending responses are quite different to those of FGM plates subjected to transverse mechanical loads, and the temperature-dependency of FGMs could not be neglected in the thermal bending analysis.     

Active control of FGM shells subjected to a temperature gradient via piezoelectric sensor/actuator patches

A generic static and dynamic finite element formulation is derived for the modelling and control of piezoelectric shell laminates under coupled displacement, temperature and electric potential fields. The base shell is of functionally graded material (FGM) type, which consists of combined ceramic–metal materials with different mixing ratios of the ceramic and metal constituents. A multi‐input–multi‐output (MIMO) system is applied to provide active feedback control of the laminated shell using self‐monitoring sensors and self‐controlling actuators through a close loop. Numerical studies clearly show the influence of the positional configurations of sensor/actuator pairs on the effectiveness of static and dynamic control for the shell laminates. The effects of the constituent volume fractions on the static and dynamic responses of the shell laminate are also elucidated. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modification of dynamic characteristics of FGM plates with integrated piezoelectric layers using first‐ and second‐order approximations

This paper proposes a method for calculating the required changes in the physical properties of plates made of functionally graded materials (FGM) in order to achieve the desired eigenfrequency shifts in the structure. A finite element formulation based on the classical laminated plate theory (CLPT) is presented for an FGM plate with integrated piezoelectric layers. Using this formulation, an efficient method based on the first‐order and second‐order approximations in Taylor expansion is expressed to calculate the corresponding changes in the plate modal properties due to changes in parameters which characterize the structure's dynamic behaviour. An initial sensitivity analysis is carried out to identify the regions within the structure where modifications are most effective on the structure's dynamic characteristics. The proposed algorithm is applied to a case study with two different boundary conditions and the results are validated against exact solutions. The influence of structural modifications on dynamic response of the plate is also studied using the Newmark‐β method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new method for finding the first‐ and second‐order eigenderivatives of asymmetric non‐conservative systems with application to an FGM plate actively controlled by piezoelectric sensor/actuators

In this paper, a new method for computing eigenvalue and eigenvector derivatives of asymmetric non‐conservative systems with distinct eigenvalues is presented. Several approaches have been proposed for eigenderivative analysis of systems with asymmetric and non‐positive‐definite mass, damping and stiffness matrices. The proposed formulation that is developed by combining the modal and algebraic methods neither have the complications of modal methods in calculating the complex left and right eigenvector derivatives nor suffer from numerical instability problems usually associated with algebraic methods. The method is applied to a functionally graded material (FGM) plate actively controlled by piezoelectric sensor/actuators. In this system, the feedback signal applied to each actuator patch is implemented as a function of the electric potential in its corresponding sensor patch. The use of this closed‐loop controlling system leads to a non‐self‐adjoint system with complex eigenvalues and eigenvectors. A finite element model is developed for static and dynamic analysis of closed‐loop controlled FGM plate. The first‐ and second‐order approximations of Taylor expansion are used to estimate the corresponding changes in the plate modal properties due to change in design parameters (the displacement feedback gains and the piezoelectric layer thickness in each S/A pair). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adhesive element modelling and weighted static shape control of composite plates with piezoelectric actuator patches

A novel finite element model is presented for static and dynamic analysis of composite plates integrated with a laminated piezoelectric layer, a host laminated composite plate and an adhesive layer between them. A new adhesive element is developed which includes both peel and shear effects in the adhesive layer based on first‐order shear deformation plate theory. The thin adhesive layer between the piezoelectric layer and the host plate is modelled by assuming that it carries constant shear and peel strains throughout its thickness. In addition, a weighted static shape control scheme for finding the optimal voltage distribution for static shape control is given. By selecting different weighting matrices, a variety of items such as displacements, slopes, curvatures, strains and even generalized forces, can be included in finding the optimal actuating voltage for static shape control. The present model is validated by comparing with those results available in the literature. The numerical results show that the weighted linear least method can give a satisfactory voltage distribution to best match the desired shape. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal Buckling Analysis of Piezoelectric Functionally Graded Plates with Temperature-Dependent Properties

In this study, the thermal buckling analysis of hybrid laminated plates made of two-layered functionally graded materials (FGMs) that are integrated with surface-bonded piezoelectric actuators referred to as (P/FGM)_s are investigated. Material properties for both substrate FGM layers and piezoelectric layers are temperature-dependent. Uniform temperature rise as a thermal load and constant applied actuator voltage are considered for this analysis. By definition of four new analytic functions, the five coupled governing stability equations, which are derived based on the first-order shear deformation plate theory, are converted into fourth-order and second-order decoupled partial differential equations (PDEs). Considering a Levy-type solution, these two PDEs are reduced to two ordinary differential equations. One of these equations is solved using an accurate analytical solution, which is named as power series Frobenius method. The effects of parameters, such as the plate aspect ratio, ratio of piezoelectric layer thickness to thickness of FGM layer, gradient index, actuator voltage, and the temperature dependency on the critical buckling temperature difference, are illustrated and explained. The critical buckling temperatures of (P/FGM)_s with six various boundary conditions are reported for the first time and can be served as benchmark results for researchers to validate their numerical and analytical methods in the future.     

Dynamic characteristics of functionally graded material sandwich plates in thermal environments

The dynamic instability of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich plates under an arbitrary periodic load in a thermal environment is studied. The sandwich plate is made up of two layers of FGM face sheets and one layer of homogeneous metal core. The properties of a FGM layer vary continuously across the thickness according to a simple power law. A set of differential equations of Mathieu type is formed to determine the dynamic instability regions based on Bolotin's method. The dynamic stability of the FGM sandwich plates is sensitive to the temperature rise, volume fraction index, thickness ratio, and static and dynamic load factor.     

Analysis of laminated composite beams and plates with piezoelectric patches using the element-free Galerkin method

 An efficient meshfree formulation based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is presented for the static analysis of laminated composite beams and plates with integrated piezoelectric layers. This meshfree model is constructed based on the element-free Galerkin (EFG) method. The formulation is derived from the variational principle and the piezoelectric stiffness is taken into account in the model. In numerical test problems, bending control of piezoelectric bimorph beams was shown to have the efficiency and accuracy of the present EFG formulation for this class of problems. It is demonstrated that the different boundary conditions and applied actuate voltages affects the shape control of piezolaminated composite beams. The meshfree model is further extended to study the shape control of piezo-laminated composite plates. From the investigation, it is found that actuator patches bonded on high strain regions are significant in deflection control of laminated composite plates. Received: 23 October 2001 / Accepted: 29 July 2002     

Nonlinear dynamic response and vibration of imperfect shear deformable functionally graded plates subjected to blast and thermal loads

Based on Reddy's higher-order shear deformation plate theory, this article presents an analysis of the nonlinear dynamic response and vibration of imperfect functionally graded material (FGM) thick plates subjected to blast and thermal loads resting on elastic foundations. The material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent and graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. Numerical results for the dynamic response and vibration of the FGM plates with two cases of boundary conditions are obtained by the Galerkin method and fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. The results show the effects of geometrical parameters, material properties, imperfections, temperature increment, elastic foundations, and boundary conditions on the nonlinear dynamic response and vibration of FGM plates.     

Static and free vibration analysis of multilayered functionally graded shells and plates using an efficient zigzag theory

Accurate zigzag theory is presented for static and free vibration analysis of multilayered functionally graded material (FGM) cylindrical shells and rectangular plates by approximating inplane displacements as a combination of linear layerwise and cubic global terms. Governing equations of motion are derived using Hamilton’s principle. The theory yields accurate results for displacements, stresses and natural frequencies in simply-supported functionally graded multilayered cylindrical shell panels and rectangular plates. Effect of changing the volume fraction ratio, aspect ratio and thickness of FGM layer between two homogeneous layers are investigated for a number of multilayered shell and plate laminates.     

A comparison of buckling and postbuckling behavior of FGM plates with piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite actuators

Compressive postbuckling under thermal environments and thermal postbuckling due to a uniform temperature rise are presented for a simply supported, shear deformable functionally graded plate with piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite (PFRC) actuators. The material properties of functionally graded materials (FGMs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents, and the material properties of both FGM and PFRC layers are assumed to be temperature-dependent. The governing equations are based on a higher order shear deformation plate theory that includes thermo-piezoelectric effects. The initial geometric imperfection of the plate is taken into account. A two step perturbation technique is employed to determine buckling loads (temperature) and postbuckling equilibrium paths. The numerical illustrations concern the compressive and thermal postbuckling behaviors of perfect and imperfect, geometrically mid-plane symmetric FGM plates with fully covered or embedded PFRC actuators under different sets of thermal and electric loading conditions. The results for monolithic piezoelectric actuator, which is a special case in the present study, are compared with those of PFRC actuators. The results reveal that, in the compressive buckling case, the applied voltage usually has a small effect on the postbuckling load–deflection curves of the plate with PFRC actuators, whereas in the thermal buckling case, the effect of applied voltage is more pronounced for the plate with PFRC actuators, compared to the results of the same plate with monolithic piezoelectric actuators.     

Finite element analysis for geometrically nonlinear deformations of smart functionally graded plates using vertically reinforced 1-3 piezoelectric composite

In this paper, a finite element model has been developed for the geometrically nonlinear static analysis of simply supported functionally graded (FG) plates integrated with a patch of vertically reinforced 1-3 piezoelectric composite material acting as a distributed actuator. The material properties of the functionally graded substrate plate are assumed to be graded only in the thickness direction according to the power-law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The analysis of the electro-elastic coupled problem includes the transverse deformations of the overall plate to utilize the transverse normal actuation by the distributed actuator for counteracting the nonlinear deformations of smart functionally graded plates. The nonlinear governing equations of equilibrium are solved by using direct iteration method with under-relaxation. The numerical illustrations suggest the potential use of the distributed actuator made of vertically reinforced 1-3 piezoelectric composite material for active control of nonlinear deformations of smart functionally graded plates. The effect of variation of piezoelectric fiber orientation in the distributed actuator on its control authority for counteracting the nonlinear deformations of smart functionally graded plates has also been investigated.     

A new analysis of nonlinear free vibration behavior of bi-functionally graded sandwich plates using the p-version of the finite element method

Geometrically nonlinear vibration of bi-functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich plates has been carried out by the p-version of the finite element method (FEM). The bi-FGM sandwich plate is made up of two face-sheet layers of two different FGM and one layer of homogeneous core. The nonlinear equations of motion of bi-FGM sandwich plates are establish using the harmonic balance method and solved iteratively by the linearized updated mode method. The effects of amplitude vibration, mechanical properties, geometrical parameters, thickness ratio of bi-FGM layers, and volume fraction exponent on the nonlinear vibration behavior of bi-FGM sandwich plates are plotted and investigated.