A mathematically one-dimensional model was developed to predict the static response
of composite sandwich beams subjected to loads induced by piezoelectric (PZT) actuators.
The model was derived using Reddy's (1984) displacement field for a laminated plate
which consists of cubic variation of the in-plane displacement through the thickness.
In this model, beam deformations include extension, bending, transverse shear, St.
Venant torsion, and torsion due to warping of the cross section out of its plane. The PZT
actuators can be configurated to induce a bimoment, resulting in twist cf the beam through
the warping of the cross section. Hence directionally attached PZT (DAP) actuator elements,
which cause twist by inducing tensile and compressive strains at 45° to the longitudinal
axis of the beams, are not necessary to actuate twist. For an aluminum beam
example, it is shown that the PZT bimomet control produced about 2.7 times more twist
than the conventional DAP control.
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