Optimal Shape Control of Composite Thin Plates with Piezoelectric Actuators

Emerging technologies in microsensing, microactuation, active airfoils, turbine blades, and large, lightweight, flexible space structures can benefit from piezoelectric actuators for active shape control. Piezoelectric materials develop strain under applied voltage which induces structural deflection. This article presents analytical models, FEM solution, and optimal shape control of composite thin plates with piezoelectric actuators surface embedded or bonded in a biomorph arrangement. A 2D FEM approach is developed which is accurate, plus simpler and more efficient than existing 3D solutions. Three optimal shape problems are presented: applied voltage, actuator layout, and actuator number optimizations. For the latter two problems, a novel method is introduced using a vector of binary variables.