Wave propagation characteristics in piezoelectric cylindrical laminated shells under large deformation

An analytical method for wave propagation in piezoelectric cylindrical laminated shells under large deformations is presented in this article. Based on the minimum potential energy variational method (Hamilton’s principle), the nonlinear dynamic governing equation of piezoelectric cylindrical laminated shells is derived. Through solving an eigenvalue problem, the wave characteristics curves of waves numbers and waves velocity are described. In example calculations, the four types of piezoelectric cylindrical laminated shells with stacking sequences [PZT-4/aluminum], [PZT-4/fiber-layer/PVDF], [PZT-4/aluminum/fiber-layer/aluminum/PVDF] and [aluminum/fiber-layer/aluminum] are taken, respectively. Here, the analysis is equally applicable to other types of piezoelectric cylindrical laminated shells. The effects of large deformation, stacking sequences and piezoelectric layers on wave propagation in cylindrical laminated shells are obtained and discussed. This solution method may be used as a reference to investigate wave propagation in piezoelectric cylindrically laminated shells under large deformation and rotary inertia for various stacking sequences and materials layers by using other methods. The results carried out can be used in the ultrasonic inspection techniques and health monitoring for piezoelectric laminated structures.