Effects of nonlinearity on transient processes in AT-cut quartz thickness-shear resonators

We study the effects of mechanical nonlinearity arising from large thickness-shear deformation on the transient process of an AT-cut quartz plate resonator. Mindlin's two-dimensional plate equation is used, from which a system of first-order nonlinear differential equations governing the evolution of the vibration amplitude is obtained. Numerical solutions by the Runge-Kutta method show that in common operating conditions of quartz resonators the nonlinear effect varies from noticeable to significant. As resonators are to be made smaller and thinner in the future with about the same power requirement, nonlinear effects will become more important and need more understanding and consideration in resonator design.