Parametric Analysis of Complex Dispersion Curves for Flexural Lamb Waves in Layered Plates in the Low-Frequency Range

A combined asymptotical and iteration method is used to study dispersion curves for the case of dynamic bending of isotropically layered plates. Based on the explicit limit formulation of dispersion equation, asymptotics of roots are derived in closed form for large values of root moduli. The influence of elastic and geometric parameters of layers are analyzed. The existence of critical values of geometric parameters that correspond to change of the type of asymptotics is demonstrated. The errors of asymptotics are estimated, and an iterative method is proposed for calculating the exact values of roots in statics. A low-frequency long-wave asymptotics of complex dispersion curves is derived; its accuracy is the higher the lower the frequency and the greater the number of the curve are. It is also proved that each complex curve has a long flat segment, the length of which increases simultaneously with the number of curve. The dispersion curves themselves are also calculated by another specific iterative procedure. The fundamental bending mode is analyzed together with its purely imaginary sister. The existence of the additional purely imaginary curve at low frequency is proved. Examples of calculating the static roots and the dispersion curves for subcritical and supercritical values of geometrical parameters are presented, and the efficiency of the algorithm is estimated.