Dynamic Analysis of Flexoelectric Actuated Truncated Conical Shells

Conical shells are widely used in aerospace engineering, such as for rocket fairings, satellite-rocket joints, load-bearing structures of solid rocket motor cases, and so on. In this study, the truncated conical shell with a flexoelectric actuator was discussed, and the precision flexoelectric actuation and control effectiveness were evaluated. A flexoelectric patch covered with an electrode layer was attached to the external surface of an elastic truncated conical shell, and a line electrode was longitudinally attached to the external surface of the patch. When a control voltage was applied to the line electrode and the electrode layer, an inhomogeneous electric field was generated; consequently, the stresses were induced in the flexoelectric patch due to the converse flexoelectric effect, thus regulating the vibration of the conical shell. The dynamic model of the truncated conical shell with a flexoelectric actuator was established. Then, the actuation effects of the flexoelectric actuator on the conical shell were investigated in terms of the microscopic behaviors, that is, flexoelectric-induced stresses, membrane control forces, bending control moments, and modal forces. Furthermore, the influences of several design parameters (that is, the line-electrode radius, conical shell thickness, flexoelectric patch thickness, and conical shell half-apex angle) on the flexoelectric actuation behaviors were also investigated.