Vibration and stability of laminated composite plates subjected to a combined electromagnetic and thermal field

A first-order shear deformation plate theory model of laminated composite plates subjected to a combined electromagnetic and thermal field is developed. The coupled equations of motion are based on the electromagnetic equations (Faraday, Ampere, Ohm, and Lorentz equations) and thermal equations which are involved in constitutive equations. In order to determine the implications of a number of geometrical and physical features of the model, one special case free vibration of a composite plate immersed in a transversal magnetic field is investigated. Special coupling characteristics between the magnetic, elastic and thermal fields are described in this paper. In addition, the free vibration responses of finite composite rectangular plates immersed in a transversal magnetic field are investigated. The vibration response characteristics of a composite plate are exploited in connection with the magnetic field intensity, thermal load, and electric conductivity of fibrous composite materials. Some pertinent conclusions, which highlight the various effects induced by the electromagnetic-thermo-elastic couplings, are outlined.