Use of General Finite Elements for Smart Structures: Technical Note

This brief technical note focuses on the process of thermal strain analogy for modeling structures with surface bonded piezoelectric actuators/sensors using any commercially available FEM codes. The article has three sections: an introduction and review of the literature; a discussion of the simulation of piezoelectric effect; and a sample problem using a piezoelectric actuated micro-robot. Piezoelectric materials when subjected to an electric field produce mechanical strain or alternately generate an electric charge when subjected to a mechanical strain. Thus, piezoelectric materials have the ability to act as actuators or sensors. Piezoelectric materials are most widely used because of their fast electromechanical response, low power requirement and relatively large generative forces. Although finite element method (FEM) code developers have incorporated or provided the tools to create piezoelectric elements, there is still a need for validation of these techniques. The author formulates and validates the model for using a piezoelectric actuator.