POTENTIAL FUNCTION-METHOD FOR PIEZOTHERMOELASTIC PROBLEMS OF SOLIDS OF CRYSTAL CLASS 6MM IN CYLINDRICAL COORDINATES

A potential function method for three-dimensional asymmetric problems of piezothermoelasticity of hexagonal materials of crystal class 6 mm in cylindrical coordinates is proposed. The method employs two piezothermoelastic potential functions, four piezoelastic potential functions, and a piezoelectric potential function. One of the piezothermoelastic potentials and the four piezoelastic potential functions are governed by simple uncoupled differential equations, which are derived from the stress equations of equilibrium and the equation of electrostatics. The remaining piezothermoelastic function and the piezoelectric potential function are expressed in terms of the previously obtained piezothermoelastic function. As an illustrative example, the problem of an infinite, thin piezothermoelastic plate subjected to axisymmtric surface heating is analyzed. Numerical results are obtained for the stresses and the electric potential in a cadmium selenide plate. The thermally induced stress distributions are compared with those obtained when the piezo-effect is ignored.