Love-type wave propagation in a piezoelectric structure with irregularity

The present study delves to study the propagation of Love-type wave in an irregular piezoelectric layer lying over a piezoelectric half-space. The closed form expressions of dispersion relation for both the cases of electrically open and electrically short condition have been established. Wave number, irregularity, dielectric constant and piezoelectric constant of irregular piezoelectric layer and piezoelectric half-space have their substantial effect on the phase velocity of Love-type wave. Numerical computation and graphical demonstration has been carried out to observe the profound effect of these affecting parameters on the phase velocity of Love-type wave. In order to highlight some of the important peculiarities of the problem, comparative study of the phase velocity of Love-type wave propagating in an irregular piezoelectric layer lying over a piezoelectric half-space and an irregular piezoelectric layer lying over a half-space without piezoelectricity for both the cases of electrically open and electrically short condition has been made. It is remarkable to quote that the size of irregularity disfavors the phase velocity of Love-type wave for both electrically open and electrically short condition. As a special case of the problem, it is found that the obtained dispersion relation is in well agreement to the classical Love wave equation for both the cases of electrically open condition and electrically short condition.