Investigation of the dynamic effects of partial sensor debonding in smart composite laminates

Abstract

Dynamic characteristics of smart composite laminate with partially debonded piezoelectric sensor are investigated. Improved layerwise theory with Heaviside's unit step function is used to model the discontinuous displacement field with jumps owing to the in-plane slipping and out-of-plane opening at the debonded interface. Higher order electric potential field is employed to describe the potential variation through the thickness of piezoelectric patches. Finite element method and extended Hamilton's principle are used to derive the governing equation of motion. The governing equation is solved in time domain using Newmark time integration algorithm. The developed model is numerically implemented on a laminated composite plate with surface bonded piezoelectric actuator and partially debonded sensor. The sensing capability is evaluated in the presence of partial inner and edge debonding in the piezoelectric sensor.