Exact static solutions to piezoelectric smart beams including peel stresses. II. Numerical results, comparison and discussion

This part presents the numerical results, comparisons and discussion for the exact static solutions of smart beams with piezoelectric (PZT) actuators and sensors including peel stresses presented in Part I. (International Journal of Solids and Structures, 39, 4677–4695) The actuated stress distributions in the adhesive and the adhesive edge stresses varying with the thickness ratios are firstly obtained and presented. The actuated internal stress resultants and displacements in the host beam are then calculated and compared with those predicted by using the shear lag model. The stresses in the adhesive caused by an applied axial force, bending moment and shear force are calculated, and then used to compute the sensing electric charges for comparison with those predicted using the shear lag model. The numerical results are given for the smart beam with (a) one bonded PZT and (b) two symmetrically bonded PZTs, with a comparison to those predicted using the shear lag model. Novel, simple and more accurate formulas for the equivalent force and bending moment induced by applied electric field are also derived for the host beam with one PZT or two symmetrically bonded PZTs. The symmetric shear stress and the anti-symmetric peel stress components caused by a shear force are discussed. In addition, in the case of PZT edge debonding, the stress redistribution in the adhesive and the self-arresting mechanism are also investigated