A layer-wise Reissner-Mindlin-type model for the vibration analysis and suppression of piezoactuated plates

A layer-wise model of three-layer piezoelectric sandwich plates is presented. Each layer is modeled according to a first-order shear deformation theory. Both a variational formulation and a locking-free finite-element formulation of the sandwich-plate problem are developed. The latter is based on a new bilinear quadrangular four-node finite element with 13 degrees of freedom per node and is validated by comparing the numerical and the analytical solution of a special problem. The proposed model is applied to the analysis of the vibration suppression problem of a thick cantilever steel plate equipped with a piezoelectric actuator, and turns out to be especially useful when a thick piezoelectric actuator is used.