Wave characteristics in functionally graded piezoelectric hollow cylinders

Based on linear three-dimensional piezoelasticity, the Legendre orthogonal polynomial series expansion approach is used for determining the wave characteristics in hollow cylinders composed of the functionally graded piezoelectric materials (FGPM) with open circuit. The displacement and electric potential components, expanded in a series of Legendre polynomials, are introduced into the governing equations along with position-dependent material constants so that the solution of the wave equation is reduced to an eigenvalue problem. Dispersion curves for FGPM and the corresponding non-piezoelectric hollow cylinders are calculated to show the piezoelectric effect. The influence of the ratio of radius to thickness is discussed. Electric potential and displacement distributions are used to show the piezoelectric effect on the flexural torsional mode. The influence of the polarizing direction on the piezoelectric effect is illustrated. For the radial and axial polarization, the piezoelectric effect reacts mostly on the longitudinal mode. For circumferential polarization, the piezoelectric effect reacts mostly on the torsional mode. In the FGPM hollow cylinder, piezoelectricity can weaken the guided wave dispersion.