Static bending mesh-free analysis of smart piezoelectric porous beam reinforced with graphene platelets

Abstract

This paper presents static analysis and response of smart piezoelectric porous beams by mesh-free approach. The beam consists of a functionally graded porous core reinforced with graphene platelets (GPLs) and two piezoelectric face layers. The effective material properties of the core vary smoothly through the thickness direction, and they are estimated based upon Halpin–Tsai micromechanical model. The electric potential is assumed to vary linearly across the thickness of the piezoelectric layers. Polynomial basis function-based C1-Hermite interpolation for all displacement and electric potential variables of the problem is proposed for the mesh-free method to discretize the equilibrium equations. Parametric studies are carried out to investigate the effects of material parameters and boundary conditions on the deflection and stresses of the beam subjected to mechanical and/or electrical load(s). Furthermore, the study also highlights the piezoelectric effect on the static bending control of the proposed beam.