One-dimensional nonlinear model of generalized thermo-electroelasticity

We investigate a one-dimensional restriction of a nonlinear model of thermo-electroelasticity in extended thermodynamics and in the quasi-electrostatic regime (see Ghaleb et al. in Int J Eng Sci 119:29–39, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijengsci.2017.06.010). An additional dependence of the thermal conductivity and the thermal relaxation time on temperature and heat flux is introduced. The aim of the present work is to assess the effect of some quadratic nonlinear couplings between the mechanical, thermal and electric fields. Such couplings are known to have a crucial effect on the stability of the solutions. It is confirmed that there are two speeds of wave propagation of disturbances, the coupled thermoelastic wave and the heat wave. Formulae are provided for both speeds, showing their explicit dependence on temperature, heat flux and electric field. The purely thermal case is briefly considered. The present results may be useful for the description of a broad range of interactions in large polarizable slabs of electro-thermoelastic materials and for the design of such materials.