Enhancement of the Hygrothermoelastic Performance of Rotating Cylindrical Smart Sensors

The goal of this research article is to investigate the effects of using two-dimensional functionally graded materials on the performance of piezoelectric sensors/actuators when subjected to simultaneous complex loading conditions. The considered disc-shaped sensors/actuators have nonuniform thicknesses and undergo asymmetric hygro-thermo-electro-mechanical loading. A power-law model is used to grade the materials radially, whereas the cosine function, which includes two independent parameters, describes the pattern along the circumferential direction. Comparing the results obtained by using the finite element method with those of one-dimensional graded structures leads to promising outcomes. For example, the radial displacement exhibits vital changes that varied between \(-13\) and \(31\%\). This is beneficial for such structures in terms of enhancing their sensing/actuating abilities. Also, the tangential stress can be reduced substantially by about \(39.5\%\) through the proper selection of the corresponding material parameters. In addition, this reduction of the tangential stress has a positive effect on the von Mises stress that can be decreased by nearly \(33\%\). Accordingly, the structure would have improved durability and sustain higher loads. These findings would revolutionize the manufacturing of smart structures and enhance their behaviors under severe conditions.