Nonlinear thermo-electro-mechanical dynamic behaviour of FGPM beams

The nonlinear dynamic characteristics of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric Material (FGPM) beams under in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical, thermal, and electrical excitations are examined. Large deflection behaviour is accounted for in both vibration and dynamic stability analyses using a modified couple stress theory to account for size effects. Response under thermo-electro-mechanical loads demonstrates the complex vibration, dynamic buckling, and post-buckling of the structure. The effects of load type, microstructural dependency, boundary conditions, beam geometry, composition rule of the constituents, and the applied actuator voltage are examined. It is shown that the applied external electric voltage may significantly affect the nonlinear dynamic response of the structure under different types of thermomechanical loading. Hence, to achieve desirable sensing and actuating characteristics, it would be possible to control the vibration, critical dynamic buckling, and stability response of the beam by applying a suitable electric voltage. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that the nonlinear dynamic response of the actuator under thermal (deformation-controlled) loading is quite different from that of mechanical (load-controlled) excitations.