The use of auxetic materials in smart structures The use of auxetic materials in smart structures Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-10-112004enThis paper presents a study of the implications of using auxetic materials in the design of smart structures. By using auxetic materials as core and piezoelectric actuators as face layers to provide control forces, the problem of the shape control of sandwich beams is analyzed under loading conditions. The mechanical model is based on the shear deformable theory for beams and the linear theory of piezo- electricity. The numerical solution of the model is based on superconvergent (locking-free) finite ele- ments for the beam theory, using Hamilton's principle. The optimal voltages of the piezo-actuators for shape control of a cantilever beams with classical and auxetic material are determined by using a genetic optimization procedure. Related numerical solutions of static problems demonstrate the role of auxetic material in the deformation, shape control and stress distribution of the beam and related two- dimensional composite elastic structures.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Computational Methods in Science and Technology210147-160 Stavroulakis Georgios Σταυρουλακης Γεωργιος E.P. Hadjigeorgiou Applied mechanics Engineering, Mechanical mechanics applied applied mechanics engineering mechanical