INVERSE PROBLEM OF 2-DIMENSIONAL PIEZOTHERMOELASTICITY IN AN ORTHOTROPIC PLATE EXHIBITING CRYSTAL CLASS MM2

When an external force acts on piezoelastic materials, elastic deformation and electric potential difference are produced. As an application of their intrinsic electromechanical coupling behavior to intelligent structures which function as a sensor, the present paper discusses an inverse problem of two-dimensional piezothermoelasticity in an orthotropic thin plate of crystal class mm2. An unknown thermal loading is inferred when the electric potential difference between the surfaces of the plate is given and when the mechanical and electric boundary conditions are prescribed. The solution technique proposed by the present authors is applied to analyze this problem. Numerical calculations are carried out for a cadmium selenide solid exhibiting class mm2 symmetry. The obtained temperature distribution of the heating medium is illustrated graphically.