Axisymmetric response of circular plates with piezoelectric layers: an exact solution

Electromechanical responses of symmetric circular laminates consisting of piezoelectric layers are studied, and the influence of surface and interlayer electrodes are involved. The laminates are traction-free on the top and bottom surfaces, but may be subjected to external forces at the lateral edge and to voltages applied across certain layers. Under axisymmetric deformation conditions, an approximate model which employs Kirchhoff hypothesis and incorporates the charge equation of electrostatic is established. Then, a closed-form three-dimensional solution of the laminates is generated in a very straightforward manner by the solution of the approximate model. The three-dimensional solution fulfills all field equations and interface or surface conditions as well as the specified electric edge boundary conditions; the only restriction is that the mechanical edge boundary conditions are satisfied in an average manner, rather than point by point. Thus, according to Saint-Venant's principle the proposed solution is exact in the interior region of the laminates.