Optimal placement and sizing of paired piezoactuators in beams and plates

Classical beam and plate structural models are used to derive cost functions for determining the optimum placement and thickness of embedded and surface mounted piezoactuators. An optimization procedure was used to develop a design guide for simplified determination of piezoactuator size and placement. Plots are presented that show both optimal piezoactuator location and thickness as functions of the modulus ratio between the substructure and the piezoactuator in a number of practical design scenarios.