Analytical, numerical and experimental predictions of the effective electromechanical properties of macro-fiber composite (MFC)

• An analytical model based on equivalent layered approach is proposed to predict the effective properties of macro-fiber composites (MFC).
• The complex electrode pattern of MFC is modeled using a finite element (FE) based unit-cell approach.
• Experiments are carried out under actuation mode to evaluate the coupling constants.
• The influence of total packing effect on the overall properties of MFC is reported using analytical and numerical models.

An analytical model based on equivalent layered approach is developed to evaluate the effective properties of macro-fiber composites (MFC) where all the phases (kapton, acrylic, copper, piezoceramic fiber and epoxy) are considered for homogenization. Also, a finite element analysis (FEA) based on representative volume element (RVE) method is performed in the present work to determine the effective properties as MFCs have interdigitated electrode patterns and variations in fiber orientations. Experiments are performed under actuator mode to obtain the coupling constants. Simulations based on the proposed analytical and numerical approaches are validated with experiments and the data provided by the manufacturer. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the variations of overall material behavior of MFC as a function PZT (fiber phase) volume fraction. The outcome of the present study demonstrates the influence of total packaging effect on effective properties of MFC.