A multiphysics model for magneto-electro-elastic laminates

• Single-layer smart plate model achieving greater accuracy with FOSDT efficiency.
• Prediction of multiphysics behavior of smart plates depends on load and boundaries.
• A model accurately predicting most fields might fail for some components.
• A systematic and complete verification is needed to verify a 2D multiphysics model.

An efficient, geometrically nonlinear, multiphysics plate model for analyzing magneto-electro-elastic composite laminates is rigorously developed by applying the variational asymptotic method. By taking advantage of the inherent small parameter characterized by the ratio of the thickness to the in-plane deformation of the plate, we systematically reduced the original multiphysically coupled three-dimensional model to a series of two-dimensional plate models. A companion one-dimensional through-the-thickness analysis provides necessary constitutive models for the plate analysis. For practical uses, we also fit the asymptotically correct second-order electromagnetic enthalpy into a generalized Reissner–Mindlin model. Three-dimensional multiphysical components such as displacement/strain/stress fields as well as the electric/magnetic potentials and fluxes are obtained through a recovery process. Results for sample problems featuring electromagnetic and elastic coupling as well as characteristically different load/boundary conditions and material configurations are compared with exact solutions to systematically investigate the prediction capability of the present model.