The effect of initial stress on the propagation behavior of SH waves in piezoelectric coupled plates

This study analytically investigates the propagation of shear waves (SH waves) in a coupled plate consisting of a piezoelectric layer and an elastic layer with initial stress. The piezoelectric material is polarized in z-axis direction and perfectly bonded to an elastic layer. The mechanical displacement and electrical potential function are derived for the piezoelectric coupled plates by solving the electromechanical field equations. The effects of the thickness ratio and the initial stress on the dispersion relations and the phase and group velocities are obtained for electrically open and mechanically free situations. The numerical examples are provided to illustrate graphically the variations of the phase and group velocities versus the wave number for the different layers comparatively. It is seen that the phase velocity of SH waves decreases with the increase of the magnitude of the initial compression stress, while it increases with the increase of the magnitude of the initial tensile stress. The initial stress has a great effect on the propagation of SH waves with the decrease of the thickness ratio. This research is theoretically useful for the design of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with high performance.     

Propagation of thickness-twist waves in a piezoelectric ceramic plate with unattached electrodes

We analyze the propagation of thickness-twist waves in an unbounded piezoelectric ceramic plate with air gaps between the plate surfaces and two electrodes. These waves are also called anti-plane or shear-horizontal waves with one displacement component only. An exact solution is obtained from the equations of the linear theory of piezoelectricity. Dispersion relations of the waves are obtained and plotted. Results show that the wave frequency or speed is sensitive to the air gap thickness. This effect can be used to manipulate the behavior of the waves and has implications in acoustic wave devices.     

Dispersion of waves and characteristic wave surfaces in functionally graded piezoelectric plates

An inhomogeneous layer element method is presented to analyze the dispersion of waves and characteristic wave surfaces in plates of functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM). In this method, the FGPM plate is divided into a number of layered elements. The elemental elastic and electric properties are assumed as linear functions of the thickness to adopt the variety of the material property of FGPM. The Hamilton principle is applied to determine the governing equations. The phase velocity surface, phase slowness surface, phase wave surface, group velocity surface, group slowness surface, and group wave surface for FGPM plate are formulated using Rayleigh quotient and the orthogonality condition of the eigenvectors. These six surfaces are then used to illustrate the characteristics of waves in FGPM plates. Numerical examples are presented using the present formulations to analyze dispersions and characteristics of waves in FGPM plates.     

Transverse elastic waves in Fibonacci superlattices

We study the transverse elastic waves propagating in 6-mm class hexagonal crystals forming Fibonacci superlattices. These are formed by repetitions of CdS and ZnO slabs in A and B constituent blocks following the Fibonacci sequence. We study the periodic superlattices formed by the infinite repetition of a given Fibonacci generation together with the finite Fibonacci generations having stress-free surfaces, in order to compare the effects introduced by the different boundary conditions. We have also considered the effects of piezoelectricity when all the interfaces are metallized and kept at a fixed potential. We use the surface Green function matching method forNnonequivalent interfaces to obtain the dispersion relations and the density of states of these systems. We have studied the influence of the increasing order of the Fibonacci generations on the dispersion relation of the transverse elastic modes. The Fibonacci spectrum is clearly seen even for low-order Fibonacci generations and is almost not modified by the piezoelectric coupling when the interfaces are metallized.     

SH wave propagation in a piezoelectric/piezomagnetic plate with an imperfect magnetoelectroelastic interface

In this paper, we investigate the SH wave propagation in a layered piezoelectric (PE) and piezomagnetic (PM) plate with an imperfect magnetoelectroelastic interface. A linear magnetoelectroelastic spring model is used to describe the weakness of the imperfect interface. On the basis of this model, dispersion curves and mode shapes of the SH waves are computed. In particular, a PZT-5A/CoFe₂O₄ composite plate is considered in the numerical examples to calculate the dispersion curves and the mode shapes for different combinations of the magnetic, electrical and elastic spring constants. The effects of the layer thickness ratio and the electric-magnetic boundary conditions on the dispersion curves are discussed in details. Our results show that for a general weak bonding case, the high modes of the dispersion curves are not monotonous in the range of small wave numbers. With the layer thickness ratio increasing, the wave velocities of the SH waves increase. The electric boundary conditions mainly determine the dispersion curves of the SH waves in the case of a small layer thickness ratio, i.e. a large thickness of the PE layer. The present results have relevant applications in the nondestructive testing and evaluation of the layered PE/PM plate-like wave devices.     

Wave propagation in non-homogeneous magneto-electro-elastic plates

A dynamic solution is presented for the propagation of harmonic waves in imhomogeneous (functionally graded) magneto-electro-elastic plates composed of piezoelectric BaTiO₃ and magnetostrictive CoFe₂O₄. The materials properties are assumed to vary in the direction of the thickness according to a known variation law. The Legendre orthogonal polynomial series expansion approach is employed to determine the wave propagating characteristics in the plates. The dispersion curves of the imhomogeneous piezoelectric–piezomagnetic plate and the corresponding non-piezoelectric, non-piezomagnetic plates are calculated to show the influences of the piezoelectricity and piezomagnetism on the dispersion curves. They are compared with the dispersion curves of the plates with the different magnetic constants to illustrate the influential factors of the piezoelectric and piezomagnetic effect for the wave propagation in a magneto-electro-elastic plate. Electric potential and magnetic potential distributions at different wavenumbers are also obtained to illustrate the different influences of the piezoelectricity and piezomagnetism.     

Love-type waves in functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) sandwiched between initially stressed layer and elastic substrate

This paper investigates the propagation behavior of Love-type surface waves in three-layered composite structure with initial stress. The composite structure has been taken in such a way that a functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) layer is bonded between initially stressed piezoelectric upper layer and an elastic substrate. Using the method of separation of variables, frequency equation for the considered wave has been established in the form of determinant for electrical open and short cases on free surface. The bisection method iteration technique has been used to find the roots of the dispersion relations which give the modes for electrical open and short cases. The effects of gradient variation of material constant and initial stress on the phase velocity of surface waves are discussed. Dependence of thickness on each parameter of the study has been shown explicitly. Study has been also done to show the existence of cut-off frequency. Graphical representation has been done to exhibit the findings. The obtained results are significant for the investigation and characterization of Love-type waves in FGPM-layered media.     

Love wave propagation in functionally graded piezoelectric material layer

An exact approach is used to investigate Love waves in functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) layer bonded to a semi-infinite homogeneous solid. The piezoelectric material is polarized in z-axis direction and the material properties change gradually with the thickness of the layer. We here assume that all material properties of the piezoelectric layer have the same exponential function distribution along the x-axis direction. The analytical solutions of dispersion relations are obtained for electrically open or short circuit conditions. The effects of the gradient variation of material constants on the phase velocity, the group velocity, and the coupled electromechanical factor are discussed in detail. The displacement, electric potential, and stress distributions along thickness of the graded layer are calculated and plotted. Numerical examples indicate that appropriate gradient distributing of the material properties make Love waves to propagate along the surface of the piezoelectric layer, or a bigger electromechanical coupling factor can be obtained, which is in favor of acquiring a better performance in surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices.     

Love waves in layered flexoelectric structures

Abstract

In this paper, the flexoelectric effect on Love waves propagating in a structure with a nanoscale piezoelectric guiding layer deposited on an isotropic elastic substrate is analytically investigated. Transcendental complex dispersion equations are obtained and solved numerically which are corresponding to the electrically open and short conditions at the free surface. A detailed discussion about the dispersion relations of the fundamental mode is subsequently presented. The results indicate that flexoelectricity has a substantial effect on Love wave propagation. The presence of flexoelectricity leads to a complex phase velocity with a negative/positive imaginary part, which means Love waves attenuate/grow over time. In addition, the phase velocity dispersion relations depend greatly on the thickness and flexoelectric coefficients of the guiding layer. The current work is the first attempt to explore the flexoelectric effect on the propagation characteristics of surface acoustic waves (SAWs). And the results would be beneficial to achieve a better performance of SAW devices.     

Hybridization of acoustic waves in piezoelectric plates

The interaction (hybridization) of different types of acoustic waves of zero and higher orders propagating in lithium niobate piezoelectric plates is theoretically investigated. Different crystallographic orientations of the plates and different directions of wave propagation in them are considered. It is shown that, for an electrically free plate with the propagation direction along any of the crystallographic axes, the dispersion curves have intersection points and hybridization is absent. However, when the propagation direction slightly changes or when one of the plate surfaces is short-circuited, the dispersion curves separate and the waves become coupled. A quantitative coefficient characterizing the degree of wave hybridization with allowance for both mechanical and electric coupling is introduced. It is shown that the dependence of this coefficient on the product of the plate thickness by the wave frequency determines the extent of separation of the dispersion curves of interacting waves. The phenomenon under study is of both fundamental and practical interest, for example, in connection with the problem of an efficient excitation of nonpiezoactive acoustic waves in piezoelectric plates.     

On propagation of anti-plane shear waves in piezoelectric plates with surface effect

Based on the surface piezoelectricity model, the anti-plane or horizontally polarized shear (SH) waves propagating in an infinite piezoelectric plate of nano-thickness are investigated to show the surface effect on wave characteristics. The influence on the overall properties of piezoelectric structures resulting from the surface effect is treated as a spring force exerting on the boundary of the bulk. The frequency equations of anti-symmetric and symmetric waves are presented analytically for the electrically short-circuited case. Numerical results show that the wave properties are size-dependent, and the surface effect becomes very pronounced at a high frequency.     

Elastic properties of spherically anisotropic piezoelectric composites

Effective elastic properties of spherically anisotropic piezoelectric composites, whose spherically anisotropic piezo-electric inclusions are embedded in an infinite non-piezoelectric matrix, are theoretically investigated. Analytical solutions for the elastic displacements and the electric potentials under a uniform external strain are derived exactly. Taking into account of the coupling effects of elasticity, permittivity and piezoelectricity, the formula is derived for estimating the effective elastic properties based on the average field theory in the dilute limit. An elastic response mechanism is revealed, in which the effective elastic properties increase as inclusion piezoelectric properties increase and inclusion dielectric properties decrease. Moreover, a piezoelectric response mechanism, of which the effective piezoelectric response vanishes due to the symmetry of spherically anisotropic composite, is also disclosed.     

Frequency-dependent localization length of SH-wave in randomly disordered piezoelectric phononic crystals

In this paper, the localization length that represents the distance of elastic waves propagating along the disordered periodic structures is defined as the reciprocal of the smallest positive Lyapunov exponent, i.e. the localization factor. The algorithm for determining all the Lyapunov exponents in continuous dynamic systems presented by Wolf et al. is employed to calculate those in discrete dynamic systems. Numerical results of the localization lengths of SH-wave are presented and discussed in ordered and disordered piezoelectric phononic crystals to identify the different effect degrees for the decay of electrical potential in the polymers and the randomness on the localization level. For the disordered case, disorder in the thickness of the polymers and disorder in the elastic constant of the piezoelectric ceramics are all considered. The results show that some parameters such as the incident angle of elastic wave, the randomness degree and the piezoelectricity of piezoelectric ceramics and so on have pronounced effects on the frequency-dependent localization length.     

Propagation behavior of two transverse surface waves in a three-layer piezoelectric/piezomagnetic structure

Propagation of transverse surface waves in a three-layer system consisting of a piezoelectric/piezomagnetic (PE/PM) bi-layer bonded on an elastic half-space is theoretically investigated in this paper. Dispersion relations and mode shapes for transverse surface waves are obtained in closed form under electrically open and shorted boundary conditions at the upper surface. Two transverse surface waves related both to Love-type wave and Bleustein–Gulyaev (B–G) type wave propagating in corresponding three-layer structure are discussed through numerically solving the derived dispersion equation. The results show that Love-type wave possesses the property of multiple modes, it can exist all of the values of wavenumber for every selected thickness ratios regardless of the electrical boundary conditions. The presence of PM interlayer makes the phase velocity of Love-type wave decrease. There exist two modes allowing the propagation of B–G type wave under electrically shorted circuit, while only one mode appears in the case of electrically open circuit. The modes of B–G type wave are combinations of partly normal dispersion and partly anomalous dispersion whether the electrically open or shorted. The existence range of mode for electrically open case is greatly related to the thickness ratios, with the thickness of PM interlayer increasing the wavenumber range for existence of B–G type wave quickly shortened. When the thickness ratio is large enough, the wavenumber range of the second mode for electrically shorted circuit is extremely narrow which can be used to remove as an undesired mode. The propagation behaviors and mode shapes of transverse surface waves can be regulated by the modification of the thickness of PM interlayer. The obtained results provide a theoretical prediction and basis for applications of PE–PM composites and acoustic wave devices.     

Effect of initial stress on Love waves in a piezoelectric structure carrying a functionally graded material layer

The effect of initial stress on the propagation behavior of Love waves in a piezoelectric half-space of polarized ceramics carrying a functionally graded material (FGM) layer is analytically investigated in this paper from the three-dimensional equations of linear piezoelectricity. The analytical solutions are obtained for the dispersion relations of Love wave propagating in this kind of structure with initial stress for both electrical open case and electrical short case, respectively. One numerical example is given to graphically illustrate the effect of initial stress on dispersive curve, phase velocity and electromechanical coupling factor of the Love wave propagation. The results reported here are meaningful for the design of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices with high performance.     

Wave propagation in non-homogeneous magneto-electro-elastic hollow cylinders

A dynamic solution is presented for the propagation of harmonic waves in imhomogeneous (functionally graded) magneto-electro-elastic hollow cylinders composed of piezoelectric BaTiO₃ and magnetostrictive CoFe₂O₄. The materials properties are assumed to vary in the direction of the thickness according to a known variation law. The Legendre orthogonal polynomial series expansion approach is employed to determine the wave propagating characteristics in the hollow cylinders. The dispersion curves of the imhomogeneous piezoelectric-piezomagnetic hollow cylinder and the corresponding non-piezoelectric and non-piezomagnetic hollow cylinders are calculated to show the influence of the piezoelectricity and piezomagnetism. Electric potential and magnetic potential distributions are obtained to illustrate the different influences of the piezoelectricity and piezomagnetism and the different influences of the piezoelectric effect and piezomagnetic effect on longitudinal modes and torsional modes. For the radial polarizing piezoelectric-piezomagnetic hollow cylinder, the piezoelectric effect and piezomagnetic effect take mostly on the longitudinal mode. Finally, a hollow cylinder at different ratio of radius to thickness is calculated to show the influence of the ratio on the piezoelectric effect and piezomagnetic effect.     

Reflection of normal acoustic waves in thin plates from a grating with a periodically distributed mechanical load

Reflection of zero-order normal acoustic waves excited in a thin piezoelectric plate from a set of conducting strips of a finite thickness is studied both theoretically and experimentally. The analysis shows that the effects produced by the short-circuiting of the plate surface and by the elastic load on the impedance ratio of adjacent plate segments are in opposition to each other. These effects can be commensurable, and, hence, for each wave type, there is a certain value of the strip thickness at which the reflection coefficient becomes equal to zero. The experimental results obtained for a shear horizontal normal wave (an SH ₀ wave) propagating in a lithium niobate plate are in good agreement with the theory and justify the use of the equivalent-circuit model in analyzing the properties of reflectors of the type under study.     

Buckling analysis and smart control of SLGS using elastically coupled PVDF nanoplate based on the nonlocal Mindlin plate theory

This study presents an analytical approach for buckling analysis and smart control of a single layer graphene sheet (SLGS) using a coupled polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanoplate. The SLGS and PVDF nanoplate are considered to be coupled by an enclosing elastic medium which is simulated by the Pasternak foundation. The PVDF nanoplate is subjected to an applied voltage in the thickness direction which operates in control of critical load of the SLGS. In order to satisfy the Maxwell equation, electric potential distribution is assumed as a combination of a half-cosine and linear variation. The exact analysis is performed for the case when all four ends are simply supported and free electrical boundary condition. Adopting the nonlocal Mindlin plate theory, the governing equations are derived based on the energy method and Hamilton's principle. A detailed parametric study is conducted to elucidate the influences of the small scale coefficient, stiffness of the internal elastic medium, graphene length, mode number and external electric voltage on the buckling smart control of the SLGS. The results depict that the imposed external voltage is an effective controlling parameter for buckling of the SLGS. This study might be useful for the design and smart control of nano-devices.     

Nonlinear dynamic response and active vibration control for piezoelectric functionally graded plate

The nonlinear dynamic response and active vibration control of the piezoelectric functionally graded plate are analyzed in this paper. Based on higher-order shear plate theory and elastic piezoelectric theory, the nonlinear geometric and constitutive relations of the piezoelectric functionally graded plate are established, and then the nonlinear motion equations of the piezoelectric functionally graded plate are obtained through Hamilton's variational principle. The nonlinear active vibration control of the structure is carried out with adoption of the negative velocity feedback control algorithm. By applying finite difference method, the whole problem is solved by using iterative method synthetically. In numerical examples, the effects of mechanical load, electric load, the volume fraction and the geometric parameters on the dynamic response and vibration control of the piezoelectric FGM plate are investigated.     

Shear-horizontal waves in a rotated Y-cut quartz plate in contact with a viscous fluid

We study shear-horizontal (SH) waves in a crystal plate of rotated Y-cut quartz in contact with a semi-infinite viscous fluid. The crystal plate and the fluid are governed by the equations of anisotropic elasticity and the theory of Newtonian fluids. A transcendental equation that determines the dispersion relations of the waves is obtained. Approximate analytical solutions to the equation are presented for the case of low viscosity fluids and the case of long waves whose wavelength is much larger than the plate thickness. The effects of the fluid viscosity and density on the dispersion relations of the waves are examined. The results obtained are fundamental and useful to the understanding and design of acoustic wave fluid sensors for measuring fluid viscosity or density.