Three-dimensional electroelastic analysis of functionally graded piezoelectric plate via state vector approach

Three-dimensional electroelastic formulation is developed to study the response of functionally graded rectangular piezoelectric structures/plates. The electroelastric properties are assumed to vary linearly and nonlinearly in the thickness direction, and exact expressions for all relevant electroelastic variables are obtained through a state vector methodology. Numerical examples are presented and discussed for simply-supported bi-layer actuators with functionally graded piezoelectric layers under surface and/or internal electric potential loads. The results presented in this paper are important in the design and characterization of functionally graded piezoelectric materials in applications as microelectromechanical systems. (C) 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.