Magnetically induced electric potential in first-order composite beams incorporating couple stress and its flexoelectric effects

A new model of a first-order composite beam with flexoelectric and piezomagnetic layers is developed. The new model is under a transverse magnetic field and can capture the couple stress and its flexoelectric effects. The governing equations are obtained through a variational approach. To illustrate the new model, the static bending problem is analytically solved based on a Navier’s technique. The numerical results reveal that the extension, deflection, and shear deformation of the current or couple stress relevant flexoelectric model are always smaller than those of classical models at very small scale. It is also found that the electric potentials only appear with the presence of the flexoelectric effect for this non-piezoelectric composite beam model. Furthermore, various electric potential distributions can be manipulated by the particular magnetic fields, and remote/non-contact control at micro- and nano-scales can be realized by current functional composite beams. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]