On buckling of column structures with a pair of piezoelectric layers

This paper presents the elastic buckling of column structures with a pair of piezoelectric layers surface bonded on both sides of the columns. The governing equation coupling the piezoelectric effect is first derived based on the assumed distribution of the electric potential in the flexural direction of the piezoelectric layer and an eigenvalue problem is solved using the direct difference method. The force excited by the piezoelectric layer due to the external voltage is modelled as a follower tensile in the paper. Such follower tensile force is used to enhance the buckling capacity of the column structure. For the columns with different boundary conditions, buckling results are presented to show their variations with respect to the location of the piezoelectric layers and the applied voltages. It was found the buckling capacity of the column structure could be enhanced effectively by designing optimal location of the piezoelectric layer and the voltage applied to the piezoelectric layers.