Reverberation-ray matrix analysis for wave propagation in multiferroic plates with imperfect interfacial bonding

The dispersion behavior of waves in multiferroic plates with imperfect interfacial bonding has been investigated via the method of reverberation-ray matrix, which is directly established from the three-dimensional equations of magneto–electro-elasticity in the form of state space formalism. A generalized spring-layer model is employed to characterize the interfacial imperfection. By introducing a dual system of local coordinates for each single layer, the numerical instability usually encountered in the state space method can be avoided. Based on the proposed method, a typical sandwich plate made of piezoelectric and piezomagnetic phases is considered in numerical examples to calculate the dispersion curves and mode shapes. It is demonstrated that the results obtained by the present method is unconditionally stable as compared to the traditional state space method. The influence of different interfacial bonding conditions on the dispersion characteristics and corresponding mode shapes is investigated.

► The method of reverberation-ray matrix is applied to study the waves in multiferroic plates with imperfect interfaces.
► Numerical performance demonstrates the accuracy and stability of the proposed method.
► Some dispersion curves of the multiferroic sandwich plate are very sensitive to bonding condition, while others are not.