On the free‐edge effect in piezoelectric laminated plates

Abstract

The present paper considers the effect of electromechanical coupling on the interlaminar stresses and the electric field strengths at free edges of laminated plates with piezoelectric material properties. The results of coupled and uncoupled piezoelectric analyses performed by use of the finite element method are compared. Exemplarily, a symmetric cross-ply and a symmetric angle-ply laminate are investigated under uniaxial tension and without any electrical loading. It is shown that the interlaminar stresses at the free edge are significantly higher in the coupled case for the symmetric cross-ply laminate, whereas the coupling effect for the symmetric angle-ply laminate is of minor significance. In addition, the occurrence of electric field strengths with singular character is revealed.