A new method for piezothermoelastic problems of solids of crystal class 6 mm in Cartesian coordinates

Applications of piezoelectric materials for the development of "intelligent" structural and mechanical systems through sensing, actuation, and control have received considerable interest recently. In this document, we present a new analytical method for Piezothermoelastic problems of solids of crystal class 6 mm in Cartesian coordinate system. In the formulation presented, potential functions are introduced to represent the coupled thermal, elastic, and mechanical fields, which satisfy the thermal, mechanical, and electrical equilibrium and prescribed boundary conditions. It is shown that the formulation presented here is simpler and direct than that presented by Ashida et al. [Int. J. Engng. Sci. 31 (3) (1993) 373; J. Thermal Stresses 17 (1994a) 361; ZAMM, Z. Angew. Math. Mech. 74 (2) (1994b) 87; JSME Int. J. 37 (1994c) 334; JSME Int. J. 37 (1994d) 341] and it eliminates the need to discuss special cases, To demonstrate applications of the technique, a thin infinite piezoelectric plate subjected to thermal, electrical, and mechanical loads at a rectangular patch is considered. Numerical calculations for the stresses and the electrical potential are carried out for a cadmium selenide body exhibiting class 6 mm symmetry. Results of these calculations are presented graphically. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.