Abstract: A functionally gradient elastic beam bonded with piezoelectric patches is analyzed in the paper. It is assumed that the physical properties vary as a power function of thickness coordinate variables. The influence of electric field intensity on its structure deformation was considered. Hamilton principle was employed to derivethe equation of the motion of a simplysuppor ted functionally gradient elastic beam. The relations between nature characteristics of FGM beam and electric field intensity are presented. The influences ofelectric field intensity and gradient index on the nature characteristics were discussed via numerical examples. It’s found that the vibration characteristics can be controlled effectively by means of regulating the electric field intensity applied on actuators. The effects of the gradient indexes on nature frequency of FGM beam are obvious, so we should pay attention to them in structure designing.

Key words: vibration control, piezoelectric patch, functionally graded materials, elastic beam