Spring-membrane models to study Love-type surface wave in smart composite structure: A comparative analysis

This work delves into modelling and analysis of Love-type (LT) wave propagation in imperfectly bonded piezomagnetic stratum to a piezoelectric substrate under the influence of mass loading (ML) by developing three distinct models, viz. spring interface model (SIM), membrane interface model (MIM) and spring-membrane interface model (SMIM). Each of these models accounts to the presence of interfacial imperfection between stratum-substrate configuration. Variable separable approach is employed to establish dispersion relations corresponding to aforementioned models in view of associated magneto-electric boundary and continuity conditions. The established dispersion relations, when deduced as special case, concur well with the results existing in literature. With aid of numerical computation, effects of affecting parameters, viz. magnetomechanical and electro-mechanical coupling parameters, spring interface parameters, membrane interface density parameter, mass loading sensitivity and wave number, on phase velocity of LT wave are traced out graphically. The computational results manifest prominent influence of interfacial imperfections on the attributes of propagating wave. A comparative analysis for dispersion curves with and without mass loading and for sensitivity due to mass loading pertaining to considered models is also demonstrated. The outgrowth of this study may be applied in the design of surface acoustic wave devices (SAWD) such as Love wave sensor.