Abstract
Smart materials are complex materials that contain both active and passive components. The system performance depends not only on active component performance capabilities but the synergistic response of the smart material and companion structure. Behavior is a result of interaction between diverse subsystems including, but not limited to, sensors, actuators, drive amplifiers and connecting digital electronics. An integrated model is developed which incorporates structural characteristics of a smart material and companion structure with a dynamic model of the amplifier used to power the smart material. Actuators are modeled using nonlinear constitutive laws and integrated with the dynamic model of the amplifier. The actuators have a significant structural influence on the smart material response. This interaction is obtained through a detailed finite element model used to determine the structural response of the smart material. Calculated displacements are compared for the dynamic model and the static finite element response model. The two analysis methodologies are used in conjunction to obtain a better understanding of the smart material performance.
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