Modeling of smart composite laminates including debonding: A finite element approach

Debonding of piezoelectric actuators for use in smart structures can result in significant changes to the static and dynamic response. This important issue is studied in the current work. The refined higher order theory for composite laminates with embedded/surface bonded piezoelectric sensors and actuators is extended to incorporate debonding of transducers by sectioning the laminate into debonded and nondebonded regions. The stress free boundary conditions at the free surfaces are satisfied in the analytical formulation. Continuity conditions between the debonded and the nondebonded regions, which are nontrivial for the higher order theory, are formulated and implemented using a penalty approach in the computationally efficient finite element model. Results are presented which indicate significant changes in the static response, natural frequencies and mode shapes due to debonded transducers.