Laminated composite structures are now commonly adopted in mechanical applications
requiring high stiffness-to-weight and strength-to-weight ratios. One of the main
disadvantages of using laminated composite members is the difficulty of inspecting
their critical-to-failure regions when undergoing critical loads. Piezoelectric materials as
sensors and actuators have transformed conventional laminated composite structures
into smart-intelligent ones. For instance, piezoelectric sensors can be used to assess the
critical mechanical deformation while piezoelectric actuators can be used to induce the
stiffness in laminated composite structures. Comprehensive analytical and numerical
solutions for the mechanical failure and shape control analysis of smart laminated
composite structures under complex loads still remain unavailable.
This thesis presents a systematic development of novel analytical and numerical models
for the mechanical failure and shape control of laminated composite structures
integrated with piezoelectric sensors and actuators.