Advanced finite element formulations for modeling thin piezoelectric structures

This contribution is concerned with mixed finite element formulations for modeling piezoelectric beam and shell structures. Due to the electromechanical coupling, specific deformation modes are joined with electric field components. In bending dominated problems incompatible approximation functions of these fields cause incorrect results. These effects occur in standard finite element formulations, where interpolation functions of lowest order are used. A mixed variational approach is introduced to overcome these problems. The mixed formulation allows for a consistent approximation of the electromechanical coupled problem. It utilizes six independent fields and could be derived from a Hu-Washizu variational principle. Displacements, rotations and the electric potential are employed as nodal degrees of freedom. According to the Timoshenko theory (beam) and the Reissner-Mindlin theory (shell), the formulations account for constant transversal shear strains. To incorporate three dimensional constitutive relations all transversal components of the electric field and the strain field are enriched by mixed finite element interpolations. Thus the complete piezoelectric coupling is appropriately captured. The common assumption of vanishing transversal stress and dielectric displacement components is enforced in an integral sense. Some numerical examples will demonstrate the capability of the presented finite element formulation. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Static and dynamic analysis of smart cylindrical shell

Shell type components and structures are very common in many mechanical and structural systems. In smart structural applications, piezolaminated plates and shells are commonly used. In this paper a finite element formulation is presented to model the static and dynamic response of laminated composite shells containing integrated piezoelectric sensors and actuators subjected to electrical, mechanical and thermal loadings. The formulation is based on the first order shear deformation theory and Hamilton's principle. In this formulation, the mass and stiffness of the piezo-layers have been taken into account. A nine-noded degenerated shell element is implemented for the analysis. The model is validated by comparing with existing results documented in the literature. A simple negative velocity feedback control algorithm coupling the direct and converse piezoelectric effects is used to actively control the dynamic response of an integrated structure through a closed control loop. The influence of the stacking sequence and position of sensors/actuators on the response of the laminated cylindrical shell is evaluated. Numerical results show that piezoelectric sensors/actuators can be used to control the shape and vibration of laminated composite cylindrical shell.     

A Piezoelectric Finite Shell Element for the Geometrically Nonlinear Analysis of Sensors

A geometrically nonlinear finite element formulation to analyze piezoelectric shell structures is presented. The formulation is based on the mixed field variational functional of Hu–Washizu. Within this variational principle the independent fields are displacements, electric potential, strains, electric field, stresses and dielectric displacements. The mixed formulation allows an interpolation of the strains and the electric field through the shell thickness, which is an essential advantage when using a three dimensional material law. It is remarked that no simplification regarding the constitutive relation is assumed. The normal zero stress condition and the normal zero dielectric displacement condition are enforced by the independent resultant stress and resultant dielectric displacement fields. The shell structure is modeled by a reference surface with a four node element. Each node possesses six mechanical degrees of freedom, three displacements and three rotations, and one electrical degree of freedom, which is the difference of the electric potential through the shell thickness. The developed mixed hybrid shell element fulfills the in–plane, bending and shear patch tests, which have been adopted for coupled field problems. A numerical investigation of a smart antenna demonstrates the applicability of the piezoelectric shell element under the consideration of geometrical nonlinearity. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Finite deformations of thin shells with piezoelectric sensors and actuators

We treat coupled electromechanical problem of finite deformations of piezoelectric shells with the help of the direct approach. A shell is considered as a material surface with mechanical degrees of freedom of particles and with an additional field variable, namely electric potential on the electrodes. This results both in the nonlinear system of equations of piezoelectric shells and in the appropriate numerical scheme. Application of the direct approach is preceded with the three-dimensional asymptotic analysis of a linear electromechanical problem for a non-homogeneous piezoelectric plate, which provides the constitutive relations for the nonlinear theory. As a sample problem, we present finite element analysis of deformation and local buckling of cylindrical panel, equipped with piezoelectric sensors. The latter influence the mechanical behavior and produce signals, which can be interpreted in terms of structural entities. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Multiscale damage analyis for steel structures

An approach to model the deterioration of steel structures is presented by transferring the results of a continuum damage mechanics analysis to an extended beam model which can account for the loss of structural integrity. Damage starts at the microscopic level by the initiation, growth and coalescence of voids with decreasing material resistance followed by the formation of microcracks at the mesoscale. Nevertheless, the material behavior can be sufficiently modelled on a phenomenological basis taking into account viscoplasticity, hardening effects and damage evolution. The associated model parameters are identified with the help of an evolutionary algorithm adapting numerical to experimental results. Using the finite element method a nonlocal formulation of the damage variable is required to obtain mesh-independent results by structural analysis. The maximum element size is limited by the small magnitude of the internal length. Therefore, numerical analyses of large scale 3D steel structures are computationally expensive. To reduce the effort a beam element is proposed to account for the plastic hinges and the loss of resistance in the course of damage evolution. The corresponding relationship of bending moment and curvature bases on the continuum damage mechanics model. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A solid shell finite element formulation to simulate the behaviour of thin dielectric elastomer structures

To analyse the behaviour of thin structures of dielectric elastomer (DE) material a solid shell finite element is presented. The main characteristics of DEs are a non-linear hyper elastic behaviour, the quasi-incompressibility, and the ability to transform electric energy into mechanical work. Applying a voltage to thin DE structures may produce large elongation strains of 120-380%. These large strains, the efficient electro-mechanical coupling, and the light weight make DEs very attractive for the usage in actuators. Thus, there is a need for detailed research. With respect to the electro-mechanical coupling a constitutive model is presented. An electric stress tensor and a total stress tensor are introduced by considering the electrical body force and couple in the balance of linear momentum and angular momentum, respectively. The governing equations are derived and embedded in the solid shell formulation. The element formulation is based on a Hu-Washizu mixed variational principle using six independent fields: displacements, electric potential, strains, electric field, mechanical stresses, and dielectric displacements. It allows large deformations and accounts for physical nonlinearities to capture two of the main characteristics of DEs. The shell element could be applied for the modelling of arbitrary curved thin structures. The ability of the present element formulation is demonstrated in several examples. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A finite element model for laminated piezoelectric shell structures

Thin piezoelectric laminates are used for a wide range of technical applications. A four-node piezoelectric shell element is presented to analyse such structures effectively. In case of bending dominated problems incompatible approximation functions of the electrical and mechanical fields cause incorrect results. In order to overcome this problem the finite element formulation is based on a mixed variational principle implying six independent fields: displacements, electric potential, strains, electric field, mechanical stresses and dielectric displacements. This allows for an interpolation of the strains and the electric field in thickness direction independent of the bilinear interpolation functions. A piecewise quadratic approach for the shear strains in thickness direction and the corresponding electric field is proposed for arbitrarily layered shells. Regarding coupling of electrical and mechanical fields this yields to an appropriate balance of the approximation functions. Numerical examples show more precise results in contrast to standard elements with lowest order interpolation functions. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dynamic response analysis of the two stators hybrid transducer type piezoelectric ultrasonic motor using finite element simulation

This paper presents the finite element simulation with an aim to analyse the dynamic response of the two stators hybrid transducer type piezoelectric ultrasonic motor. The three dimensional–model which includes the effects of piezoelectric coupling are formulated. The dynamic behaviours of a motor stator are calculated and later compared to the experimental results measured from the prototype of this motor. The impedance characteristic of the complete stator is validated using HP4294A precision impedance analyzer. In addition to the electrical measurements, the mechanical displacement and the mechanical velocity of the stator are measured directly using a single point laser Doppler vibrometer. This is to verify that finite element modelling is an appropriate approach to analyse the dynamic behaviour of this piezoelectric ultrasonic motor. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

An Adaptive Finite Element Approach for Brittle Fracture

The extension of the finite element method to take discrete fracture and failure modes into account is a current field of research. In recent times, first results in terms of cohesive element formulations have been introduced into commercial applications. Such element formulations are able to cover the discrete behaviour of interfaces between different materials or the mechanical processes of thin layers. These approaches are not suitable for simulations with unknown crack paths in homogeneous materials, due to the initial elastic phase of the material formulation and the necessity to define potential crack paths a priori. The presented strategy starts with an unextended model and modifies the structure during the computations in terms of an adaptive procedure. The idea is to generate additional elements, based on the cohesive element formulation, to approximate arbitrary crack paths. For this purpose, a failure criterion is introduced. For nodes where the limiting value is reached, cohesive elements are introduced between the volume element boundaries of accordingly facets and corresponding nodes are duplicated. Necessary modifications for this application on system level as well as the element and the material formulation are introduced. By means of some numerical examples, the functionality of the presented procedure is demonstrated. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Formulation of hybrid Trefftz finite element method for elastoplasticity

The present investigation provides a hybrid Trefftz finite element approach for analysing elastoplastic problems. A dual variational functional is constructed and used to derive hybrid Trefftz finite element formulation for elastoplasticity of bulky solids. The formulation is applicable to either strain hardening or elastic-perfectly plastic materials. A solution algorithm based on initial stress formulation is introduced into the new element model. The performance of the proposed element model is assessed by three examples and comparison is made with results obtained by other approaches. The hybrid Trefftz finite element approach is demonstrated to be particularly suited for nonlinear analysis of two-dimensional elastoplastic problems.     

Extension of the scaled boundary finite element method to geometrical and physical nonlinearity

The scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) has been used in many fields of engineering to solve the governing equations in bounded and unbounded 2D as well as 3D domains. In solid mechanics, the semi-analytical solution strategy of the SBFE formulation (numerical in circumferential direction, analytical in radial direction) is based on the assumption of linear elastic material behavior and only small geometrical changes. However, a large group of materials (e.g. rubber) shows geometrical and physical nonlinearity at mechanical loading. In this contribution, the extension of the SBFEM to geometrical and physical nonlinearity is examined. A plane finite element is developed which uses the concept of shape functions constructed by the SBFEM in the framework of a nonlinear finite element analysis. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On the Numerical Identification of System Properties in a Square Frame

In this paper the influencing factors of the nonlinear behavior of a highly deformable square frame are aimed to highlight and identify. Therefore, in a first step a square frame consisting of four slender members of equal length has been investigated experimentally. Subsequently to these investigations, a numerical model is set up with a beam finite element model, which is based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF), including geometrical and possible material nonlinearities. The influencing factors as well as the system properties are identified by using a genetic optimization algorithm. The final results show that the highly nonlinear behavior of the square frame can be reproduced accurately in case the nonlinear characteristics of the joints are taken into account carefully. The numerical model combined with the system parameter identification can be utilized for further numerical investigations of non-standard structures undergoing large deformations. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A micromechanically motivated model for ferroelectrics combined with polygonal finite elements

Piezoelectric materials are one of the most prominent smart materials due to their strong electromechanical coupling behaviour. Ferroelectric ceramics behave like piezoelectric materials under low electrical and mechanical loads, but exhibit pronounced nonlinear response at higher loads due to microscopic domain switching. Modern smart devices consist of complex geometries that may force the ferroelectrics employed within them to experience higher fields than they were originally designed for, so that the material responds within its nonlinear region. Hence, models predicting the nonlinear effects of ferroelectrics under complex loading cases are important from the design point of view. Within standard finite element models dealing with electromechanical problems, each grain may be subdiscretized by several finite elements. This problem can be approximated or rather overcome by a polygonal finite element method, where each grain is modelled by solely one single finite element. In this contribution, a micromechanically motivated switching model for ferroelectric ceramics, as based on volume fraction concepts, is combined with polygonal finite element approach. Related representative numerical examples allow to further study and understand the nonlinear response of this material under complex loading cases. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The dynamic analysis of the functionally graded piezoelectric (FGP) shell panel based on three-dimensional elasticity theory

In this paper, three-dimensional elasticity solution is extended to investigate a FGPM finite length, simply supported shell panel under dynamic pressure excitation. The host panel is assumed to be of some functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM). The ordinary differential equations (o.d.e.) are derived from the highly coupled partial differential equations (p.d.e.) using series expansions of mechanical and electrical displacements. The resulting system of ordinary differential equations is solved by means of Galerkin finite element method. At last, numerical examples are presented for a FGPM shell panel. To verify the validity of code and formulation, the results of a FGM panel and a FGM plate are compared with the published results.     

An electromechanically coupled intrinsic,mixed variational formulation for geometrically nonlinear smart composite beam

The work presented in this article is the outcome of a combined strategy of a mathematical tool for 2D cross-sectional analysis, i.e., Variational Asymptotic Method (VAM) as well as the 1D exact beam analyzer, i.e., the intrinsic mixed variational formulation for modeling and analysis of Piezoelectric-laminated composite beams. This work talks about a novel approach of mixed variational formulation to analyze a two-way electromechanically coupled piezoelectric composite beam. In a classical intrinsic mixed variational approach for a passive structure, the 1D exact beam model deals only with mechanical degrees of freedom. In the present case, an extra 1D electrical degree of freedom has been incorporated. A computational code is developed based on the present theory to solve the two-way coupled electromechanical beam problem. In the present case, we have validated the static results for sensor application. Both linear and nonlinear results have been discussed. Results obtained are very promising and are helpful in building a platform where design, optimization and nonlinear analysis of composite ‘smart’ beams in a multibody framework can be done faster while maintaining acceptable accuracy.     

热-压电效应对轴压混合层合圆柱曲板后屈曲的影响

基于Karman-Donnell型非线性壳体方程，给出带压电作动器混合层合圆柱曲板在机械荷载、电荷载和热荷载作用下的后屈曲分析．假定温度场为均匀分布，电场仅有沿板厚方向的分量Ez，且假定材料性能常数与温度和电场的变化无关。将壳体屈曲的边界层理论推广到混合层合圆柱曲板受复合荷载作用的情况.相应的奇异摄动法用于确定圆柱曲板的屈曲荷载和后屈曲平衡路径.分析中同时考虑非线性前屈曲变形和初始几何缺陷的影响．数值算例给出完善和非完善，含整体覆盖或内埋压电作动器正交铺设层合圆柱曲板的后屈曲平衡路径。讨论了温度变化、控制电压、铺层方式、面内边界条件和初始几何缺陷等各种参数变化的影响。     

A Coupled FE-BE Analysis of Smart Lightweight Structures for Active Noise and Vibration Control

Over the past years much research and development has been done in the area of active control in order to improve the acoustical and vibrational properties of thin–walled lightweight structures. An efficient technique for actively reducing the structural vibration and sound radiation is the application of smart structures. In smart structures piezoelectric materials are often used as actuators and sensors. The design of smart structures requires fast and reliable simulation tools. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to present a coupled finite element–boundary element formulation, which enables the modeling of piezoelectric smart lightweight structures. The paper describes the theoretical background of the coupled approach in which the finite element method (FEM) is applied for the modeling of the passive vibrating shell structure as well as the surface attached piezoelectric actuators and sensors. The boundary element method (BEM) is used to characterize the corresponding sound field. In order to derive a coupled FE–BE formulation additional coupling conditions are introduced at the fluid–structure interface. Since the resulting overall model contains a large number of degrees of freedom, the mode superposition method is employed to reduce the size of the FE submodel. To validate the accuracy of the proposed approach, numerical simulations are carried out in the frequency domain and the results are compared with analytical reference solutions. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Euler型梁-柱结构的非线性稳定性和后屈曲分析

在有限变形的假设下,建立了位于非线性弹性基础上非线性弹性Euler型梁-柱结构的广义Hamilton变分原理,并由此导出了任意变截面Euler型梁-柱结构的3维非线性数学模型,其中考虑了转动惯性、几何非线性、材料非线性等因素的影响．作为模型的应用,分析了弹性基础上一端完全固支另一端部分固支,并受轴力作用的均质等截面线性弹性Euler型梁的非线性稳定性和后屈曲;结合打靶法和Newton法,给出了一种计算平凡解(前屈曲状态)、分叉点(临界载荷)和分叉解(后屈曲状态)的数值方法,对前两个分支点和相应分支解,成功地实现了数值计算,并考虑了基础反力和惯性矩对分支点的影响．     

A non-affine micro-sphere formulation for electroactive polymers

With the capability to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, electroactive polymers (EAP) continuously find new and more advanced applications. Their ability to considerably change in size and shape together with low cost and weight makes them suitable for technological applications in robotics and biomimetics as actuators and sensors. A dielectric actuator, one of the most common applications of EAP, consists of a soft elastomer sandwiched between two electrodes. Common for elastomeric material is a viscous response and associated time dependence on both electric and mechanical behaviour. In this work, an electromechanically coupled micro-sphere formulation for nonlinear electroelasticity formerly proposed by the authors is further extended and includes non-affine deformation measurements as well as viscous effects. Also, a finite element simulation of a cylindrical specimen and calibration of mechanical parameters have been performed. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)