Optimal placement of thin piezoelectric patches for maximum modal coupling

The aim of this paper is to present an innovative approach for optimal placement of piezoelectric patches in the context of vibration control or energy harvesting applications. Targeting a specific mode shape and assuming that the addition of thin surface-bonded piezoelectric layers has a sufficiently weak influence, the analysis of the stress or strain fields over the bare structure directly provides the best areas for maximized piezoelectric coupling. The area extension of a patch is then optimized based on the modal electromechanical coupling factor. The whole process only requires a standard finite element model, without the need of any piezoelectric elements. Three criteria of increasing complexity are proposed and numerically validated on a benchmark structure which offers a non-standard geometry. Such criteria and methods may have a strong interest in an industrial context where coupled models or specific expertise in piezoelectric coupling are not always available.