Transducer Shape Optimization for Instability Control of Smart Piezolaminated Columns

Abstract

In this article, we present an evolutionary technique to optimize the shape of piezoelectric transducers in order to extend the instability limits of laminated composite columns. A Co-continuous eight-node plate finite element with five degrees of freedom is employed. An evolutionary shape design procedure based on the residual voltages is developed. It aims at minimizing the quadratic measure of global displacement residual error between the desired and the current structural configuration. The use of evolutionary technique makes the present procedure computationally efficient. It also alleviates the possibility of checkerboard solutions that are difficult to interpret and manufacture. The performance of the design is demonstrated in modal control of a cantilever beam and control of a tip loaded cantilever column.