Abstract

Adaptive laminated composite structures are being increasingly used in the aerospace and automotive industries due to their capability of shape control, precise positioning, and vibration suppression. In the present work, the behavior of a laminated composite beam under static and dynamic loading is being modeled using an efficient finite element model, being developed based on the CLPT and FSDT. Responses of the beam to an impact loading, where the effect of each mode of actuation is taken into account, have been plotted and the two theories have been compared. Later, the model has been modified to incorporate the effect of surface-bonded piezoelectric actuators. The effect of size and location of the piezoelectric patches, while they actively stiffen the beam, on the first three natural frequencies and also on the maximum deflection of the beam under various boundary conditions has been studied. The effect of active stiffening on the frequency and amplitude of the dynamic response of the beam to an impact loading has also been investigated. Optimization technique based on the SQP method has been applied to control the shape of a beam by minimizing the mean-square error between the actual and the desired shape. The overall mass of the beam is also minimized by changing the thicknesses of composite layers and/or actuators while various constraints are applied. Finally, optimization techniques are used to find the appropriate voltages to control the shape of a piezo-laminated beam, performing as laser beam or reflection mirror controller