On the shear stress distribution between a functionally graded piezoelectric actuator and an elastic substrate and the reduction of its concentration

Recent advances in material processing technologies allow the production of piezoelectric materials with functionally graded material properties. We investigate the implications of functionally graded piezoelectric materials when used as actuators for structural control by examining the distribution of the actuating shear stress under a piezoelectric actuator of a functionally graded material (FGM) on an isotropic elastic half-space. It is shown that FGM materials can be used to adjust the shear stress distribution. In particular, the concentration near the edges of a conventional homogeneous piezoelectric actuator can be significantly reduced in an FGM actuator.