Abstract

The ability to control equilibrium trajectory to buckling via uniform/non-uniform prebuckling stresses introduced using piezoelectric actuators creates interesting possibilities for designing smart structures. Recent innovative applications consider buckling as a favorable phenomenon in contrast to the conventional wisdom that considers the peak load carrying capacity as the sole design consideration. A circular-cylindrical shell under axial compression can be effectively used in many such applications if active tailoring of its buckling response is demonstrated. The effect of localized as well as distributed placement of piezoelectric patch actuators is analyzed in the present study based on the mechanics of deformation of a cylindrical shell under axial compression. The study establishes the possibility of active tailoring of buckling parameters such as peak load carrying capacity, initial stiffness, and first critical load. The results indicate that the principal curvatures of the cylindrical shell surface play a significant role in dictating the inter-actuator gap for the effective placement of discrete actuators.

摘要

通过使用压电致动器引入的均匀/非均匀预屈曲应力来控制平衡轨迹屈曲的能力为设计智能结构创造了有趣的可能性。与将峰值承载能力视为唯一设计考虑因素的传统观点相比，最近的创新应用认为屈曲是一种有利的现象。如果证明了对其屈曲响应的主动剪裁，则在轴向压缩下的圆柱壳可以有效地用于许多此类应用中。本研究基于圆柱壳在轴向压缩下的变形力学分析了压电贴片致动器的局部和分布式放置的效果。该研究确定了主动调整屈曲参数的可能性，例如峰值承载能力、初始刚度和第一临界载荷。结果表明，圆柱壳表面的主曲率在决定致动器间间隙以有效放置离散致动器方面起着重要作用。