Transient analysis of biocomposite laminates with delamination

The transient analysis of smart biocomposite laminates with delamination at ply interfaces is investigated, by using an electro-mechanical coupled improved layerwise theory. The piezoelectric coupling effect was modeled using higher order electric potential. Four-node plate elements were used for finite element implementation. Linear Lagrange interpolation functions were used for in-plane structural unknowns and electric unknowns, and a Hermite cubic interpolation function was used for out-of-plane structural unknowns. Single delamination was seeded in the biocomposite laminates at three different locations, to study the effects of delamination. Numerical results were obtained by using the Newmark-beta algorithm. The results showed that the time history of nodal displacement and sensor output didn't give enough information of delamination. However, the power spectral density of the time history provided clear information of the delamination effects. From the results, it is expected that the proposed theory has the potential to predict the dynamic characteristics and delamination effects in smart biocomposite laminates.