A refined model for piezoelectric composite beams

This work presents and compares few simple one-dimensional models for the piezoelectric actuation and detection of beams. The 1D nature, which allows an easy embedding of the model in the classical Euler-Bernoulli beam equations, is obtained by adopting simplifying assumptions along directions of the cross-sectional plane. By changing such assumptions, different models can be built. Their validity is discussed and compared with results of FEM simulations for varying geometries. We show that commonly adopted models fail in a series of practical cases and propose a new model capable of accurately describing wide beams.