Nonlinear piezo-thermoelastic shell theory applied to control of variable-geometry shells

Complexity of multi-field opto-thermo-electromechanical coupling always poses many challenging research issues. Recently due to a rapid development in smart structures and structronic systems, multi-field coupling and control of distributed structronic systems also raises variety of new research, development, and system integration issues. This paper presents a generic nonlinear piezo(electric)-thermoelectromechanical shell theory for a piezoelectric double-curvature shell continuum with admissible boundary conditions. Applications of the generic theory to other shell and non-shell continua based on four system parameters are also demonstrated. Detailed sensing and control electromechanical characteristics are further investigated in a series of shells of various curvatures. The results show that the membrane sensing/control component dominates the lower natural modes of deep shells and the bending sensing/control component dominates the natural modes of shallow shells. Electromechanical characteristics and effectiveness of distributed sensors and actuators are evaluated.