Effect of size-dependent properties on electromechanical behavior of composite structures

Due to its electromechanical applications in the form of nanodevices such as distributors, actuators, and sensors, the electromechanical behavior of piezocomposite structures becomes a new avenue for research. This article presents the derivation of an exact analytical solution of the composite plate based on theory of Kirchhoff’s plate and extended theory of piezoelectricity. The electromechanical behavior of piezocomposite structures accounting the influence of size-dependent properties such as piezoelectric and surface effect is investigated. In addition to this, the parametric analysis is carried out using the different parameters such as aspect ratio and thickness on the electromechanical response of composite structures. The consequences of the present study explore that the influence of size-dependent properties on the electromechanical behavior of composite structures is noteworthy with respect to the size of structures and can be ignored at bulk sizes. The electromechanical behavior including dynamic response (resonant frequency) of composite plates shows significant enhancement as compared to the conventional composite plate. This current study offers pathways for developing novel composite materials with enhanced control authority and offer guideline for the application and design of nanodevices in energy harvesting. It also highlights the opportunity to evolve high-performance and lightweight micro/nano-electro-mechanical system (M-/NEMS).