A Higher-Order FEM for Vibration Control of Composite Plates with Distributed Piezoelectric Sensors and Actuators

The active vibration control of laminated composite plates using distributed piezoelectric sensors and actuators (Fig. 1) is studied numerically with a higher-order finite element method (FEM). Reddy’s simplified higher-order theory for transverse shear deformation, which is found to be much more accurate for both thin and thick composite plates as compared with other theories, is employed for the finite element models of the composite plates and piezoelectric devices. On the other hand, the finite elements are based on higher-order Lagrange interpolations in order to provide higher accuracy and efficiency in the FEM process. The analysis of the system of composite plates with piezoelectric sensors and actuators is formulated in such a way that the actuating effects are introduced into the dynamic equations through the damping coefficient matrix. The vibration control of a rectangular composite plate with the piezoelectric devices is studied to validate the developed FEM approach. The minimal number and optimal locations of the piezoelectric sensors and actuators are investigated intensively through ten cases. The numerical results show that by using the piezoelectric devices, the dynamic response of the plate can reduce as much as 40% and also decay at a faster rate. It is found that the best location for the piezoelectric actuators is in the high strain areas of the structure, and that, in this case, more smaller, segmented piezoelectric actuators can have better control effects than a few larger, continuous ones.