Non-classical theory of electro-thermo-elasticity incorporating local mass displacement and nonlocal heat conduction

A non-classical local gradient theory of nonferromagnetic thermoelastic dielectrics is presented, incorporating both the local mass-displacement process and the heat-flux gradient effect. The process of local mass displacement is related to the changes in material microstructure. The nonlocal heat conduction law is also addressed in the model. Thus, the generalized relationship between the higher-grade heat and entropy fluxes is adopted. The gradient-type constitutive relations and governing equations are derived using the fundamental principles of continuum mechanics, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and electrodynamics. Due to the contribution of higher-grade flux, the nonlocal law of heat conduction is obtained. The constitutive relations for isotropic materials with the corresponding additional material constants are derived. To illustrate the local gradient theory and to show the electro-thermo-mechanical coupling effect in isotropic materials, a straightforward problem is analytically solved for a layered non-piezoelectric structure under non-uniform temperature distribution. The analytical results reveal that the thermal polarization effect can also be pronounced in isotropic materials. To illustrate the model considering the effect of nonlocal heat conduction, the propagation of spherical thermoelastic harmonic waves in a homogeneous and isotropic elastic medium with non-classical heat conduction law is studied.