"Smart" structures composed of piezoelectric materials may significantly improve the performance of aeropropulsion systems through a variety of vibration, noise, and shape-control applications. The development of analytical models for piezoelectric smart structures is an ongoing, in-house activity at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field focused toward the experimental characterization of these materials.
Research efforts have been directed toward developing analytical models that account for the coupled mechanical, electrical, and thermal response of piezoelectric composite materials. Current work revolves around implementing thermal effects into a curvilinear-shell finite element code. This enhances capabilities to analyze curved structures and to account for coupling effects arising from thermal effects and the curved geometry.
The current analytical model implements a unique mixed multifield laminate theory to improve computational efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. The mechanics can model both the sensory and active behavior of piezoelectric composite shell structures. Finite element equations are being implemented for an eight-node curvilinear shell element, and numerical studies are being conducted to demonstrate capabilities to model the response of curved piezoelectric composite structures (see the figure).
Response of a curved piezoelectric composite shell under thermal loading.
Lee, H.-J.; and Saravanos, D.A.: A Mixed Multi-Field Finite Element Formulation for Thermopiezoelectric Composite Shells. Smart Structures and Materials 1999: Mathematics and Control in Smart Structures. V.V. Varadan, ed., SPIE Proceedings, vol. 3667, Bellingham, WA, 1999, pp. 449–460.
Glenn contact: Ho-Jun Lee, (216) 433–3316, Ho-Jun.Lee@grc.nasa.gov
Author: Ho-Jun Lee
Headquarters program office: OAST
Programs/Projects: HITEMP
Last updated April 24, 2000, by Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov
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