Nonlinear electroelastic theory for dielectric semilinear materials

Abstract

Modeling of constitutive theory of smart materials is an intensely researched topic in mechanics of solids. This is due to its complexity and widespread applications. This article presents general constitutive theory for dielectric semilinear materials and specializes the theory for applications to problems of extension-inflation coupling and radial deformation of electro-sensitive tubes based on prototype energy function of John’s semilinear material. During extension-inflation coupling of an incompressible tube, it is obtained that a lower pressure is required to maintain a prescribed azimuthal stretch when an electric field is applied. Finally, and among other things, the numerical solutions of the considered problems coincide with those predicted by the Dorfmann and Ogden theory.