Static and dynamic FE analysis of piezoelectric integrated thin-walled composite structures with large rotations

A geometrically nonlinear finite element (FE) model based on large rotation shell theory is developed for static and dynamic analysis of piezoelectric integrated thin-walled structures with cross-ply or angle-ply laminates. The implemented large rotation theory has six kinematic parameters expressed by five nodal degrees of freedom (DOFs) based on first-order shear deformation (FOSD) hypothesis. An eight-node shell element with five mechanical DOFs and one electrical DOF is employed. Due to the assumption of small strains and weak electric potential, linear constitutive equations and constant electric field through the thickness are considered. The large rotation piezoelectric coupled FE model is validated by one static benchmark problem and afterwards applied to the static and dynamic analysis of piezoelectric integrated smart plates and shells composed of cross-ply or angle-ply laminates.