Efficient 3D-finite element formulation for thin mechanical and piezoelectric structures

It is the aim to compute efficiently the deformations of the mechanical structures that are excited or damped by piezoelectric actuators. They are treated as 3D structures to have much flexibility. Special design of the finite element concept is required since the structures are thin walled and locking effects have to be avoided. Although the computations are performed in the framework of 3D elasticity, we use ideas from modern plate elements and mixed methods. Copyright q 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd