A unified formulation for multilayered smart plate advanced models

Abstract

Magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) composite materials are attracting increasing consideration as they couple mechanical, electrical and magnetic fields and this makes them particularly suitable for smart applications. They are often employed as multilayered configurations that appear to be more effective than bulk MEE composites. Thus, reliable and efficient modelling tools are required for an effective design. The present talk deals with a unified formulation to derive advanced models for multilayered MEE plates. The approach is based on the condensation of the electro-magnetic state into the plate kinematics. This leads to models involving kinematical variables only, which takes the multifield coupling effects into account by effective stiffness, inertia and loading characteristics. Assuming variable kinematics, both layer-wise and equivalent-single-layer advanced plate models are systematically deduced via the Principle of Virtual Displacement and the Reissner Mixed Variational Theorem. Results are presented to show the accuracy and potentiality of the approach.