Nonlinear transient response of magneto-electro-elastic cylindrical shells with initial geometric imperfection.

• Build a mathematical model for magneto-electro-elastic cylindrical shells with geometrical imperfection. • Consider the impacts of the electrical potential, magnetic potential and thermal factor. • Illustrate the nonlinear transient responses of magneto-electro-elastic cylindrical shells. • Reveal the roles of the coupled multi-physics fields. Exploring the nonlinear mechanical behaviors of structures under external excitation is significant. This article, for the first time, attempts to demonstrate the transient response of imperfect magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) cylindrical shells under pulse load in thermal environment by time history curves and phase trajectories. Using Love's thin shell theory and Maxwell's equations, expressions for displacement-, electric-, and magnetic- fields are obtained. Combining Hamiltonian principle and Galerkin method, the nonlinear dynamic equations of cylindrical shells are derived, and Runge-Kutta method is employed to solve the whole problem. Subsequently, the transient responses under various parameters including BaTiO 3 vol fraction, geometric imperfection, electrical potential, magnetic potential, prestress, viscoelastic foundation, positive phase duration, damping coefficient, maximum blast load, geometrical parameter, temperature variation and various pulse loads are presented in numerical analysis in the forms of time history curves and phase trajectories. Finally, the conclusion advocates that the BaTiO 3 vol fraction, geometric imperfection and dimensions of cylindrical shells have significant impacts on the transient response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]