Abstract: | A finite element algorithm has been developed for the efficient analysis of smart composite structures with piezoelectric polymer sensors or/and actuators based on piezoelectro‐hygro‐thermo‐viscoelasticity. Variational principles for anisotropic coupled piezoelectro‐hygro‐thermo‐viscoelasto‐dynamic problems have also been proposed in this study. As illustrative studies, dynamic responses in laminated composite beams and plates with PVDF sensors and actuators are obtained as functions of time using the present finite element procedures. The voltage feedback control scheme is utilized. The proposed numerical method can be used for analysing problems in the design of smart structures as well as smart sensors and actuators. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |