Internal energy variational principles and governing equations in electroelastic analysis

The first thermodynamic law contains a universal thermodynamic variational principle. The complete internal energy variational principle in the electroelastic analysis is not discussed in previous papers. In this paper this principle will be discussed. From this principle the simple complete governing equations can be deduced, and the Maxwell stress can be naturally derived from this variational principle. It is shown that the Maxwell stress has slightly different forms determined by using internal energy or electric Gibbs free energy variational principle, but substantially they are the same. In the second-order precision the Maxwell stress is uniquely determined, and its expression has the same form for all deformable and rigid dielectrics. The electroelastic analyses in the dielectric should be studied together with its environment, because the electric field exists in all materials except the ideal conductor. The complete governing equations under finite deformation in the initial configuration are also discussed.