Variable kinematics models for multilòayered smart plates

Families of layer-wise and equivalent single layer advanced finite elements forthe geometrically nonlinear analysis of smart multilayered plates are formulated in a unifiedframework. The proposed modeling strategy reduces the multifield problems to an effectivemechanical plate by the condensation of the electromechanical state into the plate kinematics,which is assumed as a variable order expansion along the plate thickness. Numerical resultsare presented to validate the proposed modeling approach and finite elements and to investigatetheir features.