Nonlinear vibration of functionally graded fiber reinforced composite laminated beams with piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite actuators in thermal environments

large amplitude flexural vibration of a hybrid laminated beam resting on an elastic foundation in thermal environments is investigated. The hybrid laminated beam is consists of fiber reinforced composite (FRC) layers and piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite (PFRC) actuators. The fiber reinforcements are assumed to be distributed either uniformly (UD) or functionally graded (FG) of piece-wise type along the thickness of the beam. The motion equations are based on a higher order shear deformation theory and von Karman strain displacement relationships. The beam-foundation interaction and thermopiezoelectric effects are also included. The material properties of both FRCs and PFRCs are estimated through a micromechanical model and are assumed to be temperature dependent. A two-step perturbation approach is employed to determine the nonlinear to linear frequency ratios of hybrid laminated beams. Detailed parametric studies are carried out to investigate effects of material property gradient, temperature variation, applied voltage, stacking sequence as well as the foundation stiffness on the linear and nonlinear vibration characteristics of the hybrid laminated beams. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.