Nonlinear analytical buckling analysis of composite cylindrical shells under magneto‐electro‐mechanical coupling: The role of flexoelectric and flexomagnetic effects

Abstract Structures featuring flexoelectric and flexomagnetic effects have great potential for the manufacture of innovative devices, such as data storage, actuators, sensors and energy harvesters. To evaluate the stability of such devices, the buckling behaviors of magneto‐electric‐elastic (MEE) cylindrical shells with flexoelectric and flexomagnetic effects are investigated. A novel buckling model is developed based on the high‐order shear deformation shell theory incorporating with the pre‐buckling non‐uniform deformation. The critical buckling loads and buckling mode shapes are obtained by the Galerkin's method involving with some newly proposed trial functions. The effects of key parameters including boundary conditions, geometrical parameters, flexoelectric and flexomagnetic coefficients and external magnetoelectric field on the buckling behaviors of MEE cylindrical shells are investigated. The results indicate that the flexoelectric effect enhances the critical buckling stresses, while the flexomagnetic effect weakens them. Therefore, the combination of magnetic and electric fields provides an effective way to adjust the buckling behaviors of MEE cylindrical shells and provide a wider range of control over the critical buckling stresses.