Small-amplitude free vibration analysis of active multistable shells under static multifield loading

Abstract

This study considers the small-amplitude free vibrational response performed on top of the quasi-static snap through buckling, which is accompanied by large displacements and rotations of shallow doubly curved laminated piezoelectric shells under multifield loading. The mechanics incorporate coupling between mechanical, electric, and thermal fields and encompass geometric nonlinearity effects due to large quasi-static displacements and rotations. The governing equations are formulated explicitly in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates and combined with the kinematic assumptions of a mixed-field shear-layerwise shell laminate theory. Based on the above mechanics and adopting the finite element methodology, an eight-node nonlinear shell element is developed to yield the linearized discrete coupled small-amplitude dynamic equations of motion. Initially, the nonlinear coupled equations are linearized and solved quasi-statically using an extended cylindrical arc-length method in combination with the Newton–Raphson iterative technique, and subsequently the free vibration analysis is performed at each solution point. Validation and evaluation cases on laminated cylindrical shells demonstrate the accuracy of the present method and its robust capability to predict the modal response on top of the nonlinear quasi-static response of active multistable shells subject to combined thermo–piezo–electromechanical loads. Numerical cases show the feasibility to develop smart shell structures to detect, via the monitoring of natural frequencies, the onset of snap-through instability. The capability of smart shells to actively modify its natural frequencies such as to promote or mitigate snap-through instabilities is quantified. Additional results quantify the effect of thermomechanical loads on actuation capability. The influence of geometric parameters (curvature and thickness) on the modal response is finally investigated.