The Effect of Discrete Layer Kinematics on the Global Response of Homogeneous and Composite Plates with Multiple Actuator Pairs

For the simple case of a homogeneous, isotropic plate with a single, symmetric pair of actuators, previous work by the authors has demonstrated the importance of including discrete layer kinematics in predicting the global response of the actuated plate. The inclusion of discrete layer kinematics permits accurate modeling of the so-called local kinematic effect, whereby a portion of the total actuation is diverted to the production of localized transverse shear deformation near the edges of the actuator, thus reducing the amount of actuation energy available to produce the desired global deformation mode. The present study expands upon this previous effort, investigating the magnitude of the local kinematic effect for more complex actuated plates involving fiber-reinforced laminated composite substrates with multiple symmetric pairs of actuators. The results obtained from finite element simulations using a wide range of kinematic assumptions conclusively demonstrate that as the actuated span-to-thickness ratio decreases, the models with discrete layer kinematics predict a smaller global response than the models that use equivalent-single-layer kinematics. Thus, the local kinematic effect is observed to influence the global response of the actuated plates regardless of the material constitution of the structural substrate and regardless of the in-plane spacing between actuator pairs.