Improved Modelling of Piezoelectric Composites

In this project, we will build and solve simple macroscale models that capture the interplay between the microscale elastic deformation of the components and the electromagnetic effects. We will take advantage of small parameters (such as the ratio of microstructural to macroscopic length-scales for composite materials, or the aspect ratio of a sensor) to develop systematic simplifications of the governing equations using homogenization theory and asymptotic analysis. Our goal is to develop models simple enough to allow the examination of novel configurations and to characterise prototype design concepts without the need for expensive and laborious prototyping and measurement. We anticipate developing a suite of models with different levels of complexity and fidelity. In each case, we will quantify the error in the approximations made, so that the models can be used with
confidence.

This project falls within the EPSRC Materials engineering - composites research area