Shell finite element for smart piezoelectric composite plate/shell structures and its application to the study of active vibration control

In this paper the mechanics for the coupled analysis of piezolaminated plate and piezolaminated curvilinear shell structures and their vibration control performance are considered. A plate/shell structure with thin PZT piezoceramic layers embedded on top and bottom surfaces to act as distributed sensor and actuator is considered. A Co continuous, shear flexible, nine-noded quadrilateral shell element derived based on field consistency principle has been used. In the case of elements formulated based on field consistency principle, all the energy terms are numerically evaluated using a full integration scheme, irrespective of the thickness parameter. This element has been developed to include the stiffness, mass and electromechanical coupling effects of the piezoelectric sensor and actuator layers. Active vibration control performance of plates and shells with distributed piezoelectric sensors and actuators have been studied using this element. The control effectiveness of various control strategies are studied. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.