Effects of Constraint Layers on Piezoelectric Actuator Effectiveness for Active Composite Panels with Embedded Sensors and Actuators

摘要

The influence of different number of constraint layers on the embedded piezoelectric actuator performance effectiveness is examined by employing finite element harmonic analysis in conjunction with Modified Corresponding (MCOV) and Combination Corresponding Voltage (CCOV) scheme on two different composite laminate structures namely; active composite beams (ACBs) and active circular composite plates (ACPs), respectively. Required actuator voltage values necessary for the active vibration suppression can be obtained from D-L-S-A design charts employing MCOV or CCOV schemes. The developed finite element model (FEM) is employed in combination with the two proposed schemes to deliver the maximum vibration suppression for the beam and the circular plate. To eliminate thickness effect on the actuator performance both composite structures contain constant thicknesses where embedded actuator performance is influenced by only two coupling factors namely; number of constraint layers and the actuator distance from neutral plane. Two finite element models (FEMs) using ANSYS software are considered for this study. The first FEM focuses on beams having constant thicknesses with non-collocated piezoelectric patches acting as sensor and actuator. Embedded piezoelectric actuator is placed near the clamped end and at different locations through the thickness to generate various number of constraint layers. The piezoelectric sensor is placed one lamina below the surface and near the beam tip for all cases. The second FEM deals with a circular composite plate having constant thicknesses and six embedded piezoelectric patches acting as sensors and actuators in a triangular configuration.