On a new class of electro-elastic bodies. II. Boundary value problems

Abstract

In part I of this two-part paper, a new theoretical framework was presented to describe the response of electro-elastic bodies. The constitutive theory that was developed consists of two implicit constitutive relations: one that relates the stress, stretch and the electric field, and the other that relates the stress, the electric field and the electric displacement field. In part II, several boundary value problems are studied within the context of such a construct. The governing equations allow for nonlinear coupling between the electric and stress fields. We consider boundary value problems wherein both homogeneous and inhomogeneous deformations are considered, with the body subject to an electric field. First, the extension and the shear of an electro-elastic slab subject to an electric field are studied. This is followed by a study of the problem of a thin circular plate and a long cylindrical tube, both subject to an inhomogeneous deformation and an electric field. In all the boundary value problems considered, the relationships between the stress and the linearized strain are nonlinear, in addition to the nonlinear relation to the electric field. It is emphasized that the theories that are currently available are incapable of modelling such nonlinear relations. © 2013 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society.