Nonlinear bending analysis of unsymmetric cross-ply laminated plates with piezoelectric actuators in thermal environments

Nonlinear bending analysis is presented for a simply supported, shear deformable cross-ply laminated plate with piezoelectric actuators subjected to a transverse uniform or sinusoidal load combined with electrical loads and in thermal environments. The temperature field considered is assumed to be a uniform distribution over the plate surface and through the plate thickness and the electric field is assumed to be the transverse component E-Z only. The material properties are assumed to be independent of the temperature and the electric field. The governing equations of a laminated plate are based on a higher order shear deformation plate theory with a von Karman-type of kinematic nonlinearity, and including thermo-piezoelectric effects. A perturbation technique is employed to determine the load-deflection and load-bending moment curves. The numerical illustrations concern nonlinear bending behavior of unsymmetric cross-ply laminated plates with fully covered or embedded piezoelectric actuators under different sets of thermal and electrical loading conditions. The results presented show the effects of temperature rise and applied electric fields on the nonlinear bending behavior of the plate. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.