Nonlocal and surface effects on the bending analysis of flexoelectrically actuated piezoelectric microbeams in hygrothermal environment.

In this article, the bending analysis of flexoelectric functionally graded (FG) microbeams according to nonlocal elasticity theory is verified. To this end, higher order refined beam theory has been used. The foundation of FG microbeam includes Winkler-Pasternak layer. Hamilton’s principle is used to obtain the governing equations based on the nonlocal theory and solved employing an analytical solution. The model is designed in such a way that the properties change continuously. A parametric study is presented to inquire the nonlocal parameter, power-law hygro-thermal-loadings, flexoelectric effect, transverse external loading, on the bending characteristics of FG microbeam. It is found that boundary conditions, flexoelectric effect, nonlocal parameter, power-law index and beam geometrical parameters have notable effects on dimensionless deflection of FG microscale beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]