Piezoelectric Shells: Distributed Sensing and Control of Continua

The exploitation of new, advanced structures and electromechanical systems has been one of the mainstream research and development activities in recent years. In the search for and research into innovative technologies, piezoelectric materials are proved to be very versatile in both sensor and actuator applications. Consequently piezoelectric technology has been widely applied to a large number of industrial applications and devices, varying from thin-film microsensors/actuators to large space structures, in addition to relatively conventional applications, eg sensors, actuators, mobile robots, micromotors, etc. This monograph gives a unified presentation of piezoelectric shells and the distributed sensing/control applications. Important aspects of the book are its introduction of the generic approach of piezoelectric shells and the fundamental electromechanics of distributed piezoelectric sensors/actuators in structural controls. The book is divided into two major parts. The first part focuses on piezoelectric shell continua; the second part on distributing sensing and control of elastic continua. The exposition provides practising engineers and researchers with an introduction to advanced piezoelectric shell theories and distributed sensor/actuator technologies in structural identification and control. The book can also be used as a textbook for graduate students.