LAUSR

Abstract Consequence of damage on flutter characteristics of laminated composite plates and retrieving of those reduced characteristics using piezoelectric patches are analyzed in this work. Finite element formulation for flutter analysis is done for a smart composite plate having internal flaw. Internal flaws are incorporated in finite element formulation based on anisotropic damage formulation. Flutter velocity and flutter frequency are calculated by performing coding in Matlab environment. Flutter characteristics for different fiber orientations, different damage parameters and piezoelectric patch locations are obtained. Piezoelectric patches are bonded on the top of the composite plate and studies are carried out with different input voltages. Deterioration in the flutter characteristics are observed in composite plates having internal flaw. Enhancement of flutter boundary by actuating piezoelectric patches with input voltage was performed and these patches have the potential to retrieve the flutter boundary reduction due to anisotropic damage in composite plate with minimum applied voltage.