Publications

Analytical and experimental studies of orthotropic corner-supported plates with segmented in-plane actuators

Sumali, Hartono S.; Massad, Jordan M.; Reu, Phillip L.; Chaplya, Pavel; Martin, Jeffrey W.

This paper outlines a model for a corner-supported, thin, rectangular bimorph actuated by a two-dimensional array of segmented, orthotropic PVDF laminates; it investigates the realization and measurement of such a bimorph. First, a model is derived to determine the deflected shape of an orthotropic laminate for a given distribution of voltages over the actuator array. Then, boundary conditions are realized in a laboratory setup to approach the theoretical corner-supported boundary condition. Finally, deflection measurements of actuated orthotropic PVDF laminates are performed with Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry and are compared to the model results. Copyright © 2005 by ASME.