Variational energy approach for electromechanical analysis of thick piezoelectric beam

A new two dimensional coupled electromechanical model for a thick, laminated beam with piezoelectric and isotropic lamina subjected to static external electric loading is developed. The model combined the first order shear deformation theory for the relatively thick elastic core and linear piezoelectric theory for the piezoelectric lamina. The actuation response is induced through the application of external electric voltage. Rayleigh-Ritz method is adopted to model the displacement and potential fields of the beam and governing equations were finally derived from the variational energy principle. The model allows the piezoelectric lamina to be formulated via a two-dimensional model because of the strong electro-mechanical coupling and the presence of a two-dimensional electric field. Numerical examples of piezoelectric laminated beam are presented. It is shown in this paper that a one-dimensional model for the piezoelectric beam-like layer is inadequate.