Buckling analysis of smart beams based on higher order shear deformation theory and numerical method

The buckling analysis of the embedded sinusoidal piezoelectric beam is evaluated using numerical method. The smart beam is subjected to external voltage in the thickness direction. Elastic medium is simulated with two parameters of spring and shear. The structure is modelled by sinusoidal shear deformation theory (SSDT) and utilizing energy method, the final governing equations are derived on the basis of piezo-elasticity theory. In order to obtaining the buckling load, the differential quadrature method (DQM) is used. The obtained results are validated with other published works. The effects of beam length and thickness, elastic medium, boundary condition and external voltage are shown on the buckling load of the structure. Numerical results show that with enhancing the beam length, the buckling load is decreased. In addition, applying negative voltage, improves the buckling load of the smart beam.