Nonlinear analysis of smart functionally graded annular sector plates using cylindrically orthotropic piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite

This work deals with the geometrically nonlinear thermo-electro-elastic analysis of functionally graded (FG) annular sector plates integrated with the annular patches of cylindrically orthotropic piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite (PFRC). The annular patches with an external voltage across their thickness act as the distributed actuators and their performance in controlling the nonlinear flexural deformations of the host FG plates is investigated. The temperature field is assumed to be spatially uniform over the plate surfaces and varied through the thickness of the substrate FG plates. The temperature-dependent material properties of the FG plates are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction of the plates according to a power-law distribution while the Poisson’s ratio is assumed to be a constant over the domain of the substrate plate. A finite element model of the overall smart FG annular sector plate is developed based on the first order shear deformation theory and the Von Karman nonlinear strain–displacement relations. The governing nonlinear finite element equations are derived employing the principle of minimum potential energy and solved using direct iteration method. The numerical results illustrate significant control authority of the cylindrically orthotropic PFRC annular patches for active control of nonlinear deformations of the substrate FG annular sector plates. The numerical results also reveal the best radial and circumferential locations of the annular PFRC patches for effective control. For a specified circumferential stretch of the annular PFRC patches, their minimum radial length is numerically estimated in such a way that the performance of the overall smart FG plate is not affected significantly. The effects of the material properties and the temperature of the host FG plate on the performance of the annular PFRC patches are also discussed.