Finite element based design tool for smart composite structures

This paper presents an integrated finite element-control methodology for the design/analysis of smart composite structures. The method forms part of an effort to develop an integrated computational tool that includes finite element modeling; control algorithms; and deterministic, fuzzy and probabilistic optimization and integrity assessment of the structures and control systems. The finite element analysis is based on a 20 node thermopiezoelectric composite element for modeling the composite structure with surface bonded piezoelectric sensors and actuators; and control is based on the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) and the independent modal space control (IMSC) methods. The method has been implemented in a computer code called SMARTCOM. Several example problems have been used to verify various aspects of the formulations and the analysis results from the present study compare well against other numerical or experimental results. Being based on the finite element method, the present formulation can be conveniently used for the analysis and design of smart composite structures with complex geometrical configurations and loadings.