Dynamic Stability Behavior of 3D Braided Composite Plates Integrated with Piezoelectric Layers

This article presents a dynamic stability analysis of a simply supported 3D braided composite laminated plate with surface-bonded piezoelectric layers, subjected to electrical and periodic in-plane mechanical loads. The braided composite plate is produced by the four-step 1 x 1 technique. It is assumed that the yarn is transversely isotropic, and the matrix is isotropic. A fiber inclination model is used to predict the effective stiffness matrices of the braided composite laminates. Theoretical formulations are based on Reddy's higher order shear deformation plate theory and include piezoelectric effects. Double Fourier series is employed to convert the dynamic governing equations into a linear system of Mathieu-Hill equations from which the boundary points on the unstable regions are determined by Bolotin's method. Numerical illustrations show the influence of fiber volume fraction, braiding angle, inclination angle, static load level, applied voltage, and aspect ratio on the dynamic stability, buckling and free vibration of the braided composite plate.