Finite dynamic deformations of smart structures

We study transient finite deformations of a neoHookean beam or plate with piezoelectric (PZT) patches bonded to its upper and lower surfaces. The constitutive relations for the PZTs are taken to be linear in the Green-Lagrange strain tensor but quadratic in the driving voltage. A finite element code using 8-noded brick elements has been developed and validated by comparing computed results with either analytical solutions or experimental observations. For flexural waves propagating through a cantilever beam, the sensor output is influenced a little by the presence of a defect placed symmetrically about the centroidal axis. A simple feedback control algorithm is shown to control the motion of a neoHookean plate subjected to an impulsive load.