Three-dimensional vibration analysis of multilayered piezoelectric composite plates

We investigate the free vibration of multilayered piezoelectric composite plates. A brief review of the theoretical developments in piezoelasticity that are relevant to smart composite structures is presented. An analysis is performed using the differential quadrature (DQ) technique to solve three-dimensional equations of piezoelasticity, and technical issues are thoroughly discussed. Solutions for piezoelastic laminated plates are made possible with the development and implementation of the DQ layerwise modeling technique, which allows different boundary conditions to be imposed at the edges of the plates. The numerical results of different plate problems are presented, and the effects of the piezoelasticity of these problems are investigated. The DQ model predictions are validated against existing results, with good agreement found.