Paper number 704

DESIGN OF SMART COMPOSITE LAMINATES AND THIN-WALLED BEAMS

C. Kaiser, H. Baier

Chair of Lightweight-Structures, Technische Universität München, D-85747 Garching

Summary

The behavior of active anisotropic laminates and thin-walled composite beams is characterized by a complex interaction between active layers and anisotropic substrates. CLT shows the influence of actuator-type (isotropic, orthotropic and kind of actuation), actuator position, and actuator orientation onto shear-deformation and twist of tension-shear-and tension-torsion-coupled smart laminates. A linear theory for analysis of smart tension-torsion- coupled thin-walled beams is also presented which takes into account out-of-plane warping, inplane warping and inplane actuation effects. Additional effects of boundary conditions and type of cross-section have significant influence on the optimum design of such smart beams to achieve maximum twist.

Keywords

composite structures, composite laminates, smart structures, thin-walled beams, anisotropy, elastic coupling, piezoelectric actuator.