Buckling Optimization and Prebuckling Enhancement of Imperfect Composite Plates Using Piezoelectric Actuators

Abstract

An imperfect composite plate equipped with piezoelectric actuators is investigated. Geometric nonlinear effects are considered only in the prebuckling regime such that higher order strain energy terms can be disregarded. The actuators are used to achieve two goals: to optimize buckling loads under uncertain loadings via stress stiffening effects and to ameliorate the plate prebuckling response through application of piezoelectric bending moments. A strategy is proposed where the piezoelectric membrane forces and bending moments are separated by proper selection of voltages imposed on symmetrically bonded piezoelectric patches. Piezoelectric forces and moments are then used separately to optimize buckling loads and to improve prebuckling response.