Most of the existing studies on wave propagation in magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) medium are confined to classical/local continuum theory. Keeping in view the importance of nonlocal continuum mechanics for modeling and analysis of microminiaturization of devices and use of composite materials in engineering, the present work explore the wave propagation phenomena in a nonlocal MEE medium, thereby incorporating size-dependent effects that are highly relevant at micro/nano scales. This study is aimed to investigate the propagation of plane wave in a linear, homogeneous and transversely isotropic MEE solid in the framework of nonlocal theory. The governing equations of nonlocal MEE medium are formulated in context of Eringen’s theory of nonlocal elasticity. The specialized (two-dimensional) governing equations of nonlocal MEE medium are solved by a plane wave method to show the existence of two coupled plane waves. Reflection of a coupled plane wave is considered at a stress free surface of a half-space containing nonlocal MEE material. Making use of the relevant nonlocal boundary conditions at free surface of the half-space, the expressions of reflection coefficients and energy ratios for reflected waves are derived. To analyze the influence of the nonlocal parameter on the speeds of plane waves, reflection coefficients and energy ratios, a numerical example of BaTiO3–CoFe2O4 material combination as MEE material is chosen. The dependence of the speed of plane waves, reflection coefficients and energy ratios of reflected waves on nonlocal parameter, angular frequency and angle of incidence is illustrated graphically using MATLAB software. The findings of the present work are expected to provide the theoretical insights useful for the design of micro/nano-scale senors, actuators, and multifunctional smart devices.
Sangwan et al. (2025) studied this question.