Characteristics of wave propagation in piezoelectric bent rods with arbitrary curvature

The wave propagation in the piezoelectric bend rods with arbitrary curvature is studied in this paper. Basic three-dimensional equations in an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system (r, 0, s) are established. The Bessel functions in radial co-ordinate and triangle series in the angular co-ordinate are used to describe the displacements and electrical potential. Characteristics of dispersion, distributions of displacements and electrical potential over the cross section are calculated, respectively. In the numerical examples, the effects of the ratio of the two ellipse axes on the dispersion relations of the first three modes are observed. The characteristics of the distribution of displacements and electric potential in the cross section, along the radial and s direction are investigated. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.