Finite element method for piezoelectric vibration

Abstract A finite element formulation which includes the piezoelectric or electroelastic effect is given. A strong analogy is exhibited between electric and elastic variables, and a ‘stiffness’ finite element method is deduced. The dynamical matrix equation of electroelasticity is formulated and found to be reducible in form to the well‐known equation of structural dynamics, A tetrahedral finite element is presented, implementing the theorem for application to problems of three‐dimensional electroelasticity.