THERMAL EFFECTS IN MINDLIN-TYPE PLATES

We derive a linear thermoelastic plate model based on a Mindlin-type a ssumption on the displacements. Initial-boundary-value problems of the Dirichlet, Neumann and mixed type are formulated and appropriate uniq ueness results are obtained. The exterior problems are solved in speci al classes of finite-energy functions having a specific 'far-field pat tern' which allow some divergence at infinity. These are larger than t he class of admissible functions used in classical elasticity. We also indicate how results on existence and uniqueness are obtained in prob lems of static equilibrium and steady thermoelastic oscillations. The latter are governed by systems of elliptic equations and can be solved numerically using a generalized Fourier-series technique developed ea rlier for thin micropolar plates. Finally, we mention the generalizati on to a theory of thermoelastic micropolar plates.