The electromechanical behavior of a piezoelectric actuator bonded to an anisotropic elastic medium (Q5939464)

The authors investigate the coupled electromechanical problem of a thin actuator of rectangular shape bonded to a homogeneous orthotropic elastic medium under in-plane mechanical and electric loadings. Two aspects of the electromechanical interaction are examined: (i) the effect of geometry and material anisotropy on the load transfer from the actuator to the host structure, and (ii) the effect of partial interfacial debonding on this load transfer and, in particular, on the stress concentration at the ends of the actuator. The electrically induced stress field is studied in detail using Fourier transform technique. An integral equation is derived for the calculation of the interfacial shear stress. Typical examples are treated, including the case of isotropic host structure, and the obtained results are discussed in detail. It is asserted that the calculations are in agreement with numerical results obtained by the finite element method.