Integrated electronic/material/structural modeling of a smart material

In this paper we develop an integrated model of the amplifier, actuator material, and structural dynamics of a smart material. Stacked electrostrictor actuators are driven by a PWM amplifier. These actuators are attached to a graphite epoxy composite base and they drive an alumina headmass. The whole device, designed from underwater acoustics, is potted. We model the actuators using nonlinear constitutive laws. These equations are integrated into a dynamic model of the amplifier. Then these equations are integrated with a dynamic model of the actuator. Finally, a finite element model is developed for the multilayered composite material that provides the dynamic response of the device. Using superelements, stiffness coefficients are extracted from the finite element model of the multilayered composite material.