Study on localization of plane elastic waves in disordered periodic 2–2 piezoelectric composite structures

Considering the effect of mechanic–electric coupling, the propagation and localization of plane elastic waves in disordered periodic layered piezoelectric composite structures are studied. The transfer matrix between two consecutive unit cells is obtained by means of the continuity conditions and the expression of the localization factors in disordered periodic structures is presented by regarding the variables of mechanical and electrical fields as the elements of state vectors. As examples, numerical results of localization factors are presented and discussed. It can be seen from the results that ordered periodic structures possess the properties of frequency passbands and stopbands and the phenomenon of wave localization in disordered periodic structures is observed, and the larger the coefficient of variation is, the larger the localization factor or the stronger the degree of wave localization is. The characters of wave propagation and localization are very different for different sorts of piezocomposites or different structural sizes, and even for same sorts of piezocomposites and same structural sizes the characters of wave propagation and localization are also very different for different non-dimensional wavenumbers. We may design different piezocomposites or adjust the structural sizes to control the characters of wave propagation and localization.