Coupled and uncoupled analyses of piezoelectric free-edge effect in laminated plates

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. A comparison of coupled and uncoupled piezoelectric analyses is performed using the finite element method. Two symmetric cross-ply plates and one symmetric angle-ply laminate are investigated under uniaxial tension. It is shown that the interlaminar stresses at the free edge are significantly higher in the coupled case for cross-ply laminates, 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.