Mixed boundary value problems of two-dimensional anisotropic thermoelasticity with elliptic boundaries (Q5946067)

This work is concerned with two-dimensional mixed boundary value problems for an infinite anisotropic, linearly thermoelastic medium with an elliptical hole. The time-independent field equations of classical thermoelasticity are adopted in which the temperature field is decoupled from the elastic fields. By employing Stroh method, field quantities are represented in terms of four analytical functions depending each on a single complex variable in the form \(x + k y\), where four complex constants \(k\) are obtained as eigenvalues of some matrices constructed from the material coefficients. It is assumed that the displacement and the temperature are prescribed over a subset of the boundary of an elliptical hole which consists of a finite union of disjoint arcs, whereas its complement is free from tractions and is insulated. The exterior of the elliptical hole is conformally mapped onto exteriors of circular holes in different complex planes. Then analytical continuations are employed to reduce the problem to the well-known Hilbert problem. Explicit solutions are provided for the indentation of the boundary by a rigid stamp symmetrically located at the tip of the major axis, and for the similarly reinforced hole, both subjected to a uniform heat flux at infinity. For a particular material, contact stresses are computed and graphically depicted.