Abstract:
This study presents a general theory for the motions of a ceramic shell in which there is coupling among mechanical, electrical, and thermal fields. The coated ceramic shell is treated as a two-dimensional thermopiezoelectric medium and a separation of variables solution in terms of the thickness coordinates, the midsurface coordinates, and time is sought for its field variables. Then, a variational averaging procedure [M. C. Dokmeci, IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq. Control 35, 775--787 (1988)] together with the solution is used so as to derive the system of approximate equations of ceramic shell. The invariant system of governing equations which are expressed in both differential and variational forms accounts for all the types of motions of ceramic shells. Certain cases involving special geometry, material properties, and motions are considered [e.g., M. C. Dokmeci, J. Math. Phys. 19, 109--126 (1978)]. Also, the sufficient boundary and initial conditions are given for the uniqueness in solutions of the fully linearized system of shell equations. The results are shown to generate a series of known shell theories [e.g., M. C. Dokmeci, IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq. Control 37, 369--385 (1990) and references therein]. [Work supported by TUBA-TUBITAK.]