Accurate buckling analysis of magneto-electro-elastic cylindrical shells subject to hygro-thermal environments.

• Accurate buckling model is proposed for hygro-thermo-magneto-electro-elastic shells. • Non-uniform pre-buckling effect is introduced to enhance the accuracy of critical buckling loads. • Both axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric buckling solutions are obtained simultaneously. • Critical buckling stresses and analytical buckling modes are obtained simultaneously. • Parametrical effects on buckling behaviors under multi-physical fields are revealed. An accurate buckling model for the magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) composite cylindrical shell under hygro-thermo-magneto-electro-elastic (HTMEE) loads is proposed by considering non-uniform pre-buckling effects. Nonlinear governing equations involving HTMEE multi-physical coupling effects are derived based on the higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) and von Karman geometrical nonlinearity. Critical buckling stresses and analytical buckling mode for both the axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric buckling are obtained by the Galerkin method. In numerical examples, comparisons between theoretical predictions and existing results are presented, and excellent agreements are observed. Special attention is paid to evaluation of pre-buckling effects on buckling behaviors of HTMEE shells subjected to multi-physical fields. A comprehensive parametric study is performed to reveal effects of key influencing factors on critical buckling stresses and buckling modes. It is believed that present results will be useful for assessing other numerical methodologies and contributing the rapid design of sensors and actuators with HTMEE cylindrical shells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]