Shear-horizontal waves in a rotated Y-cut quartz plate in contact with a viscous fluid

We study shear-horizontal (SH) waves in a crystal plate of rotated Y-cut quartz in contact with a semi-infinite viscous fluid. The crystal plate and the fluid are governed by the equations of anisotropic elasticity and the theory of Newtonian fluids. A transcendental equation that determines the dispersion relations of the waves is obtained. Approximate analytical solutions to the equation are presented for the case of low viscosity fluids and the case of long waves whose wavelength is much larger than the plate thickness. The effects of the fluid viscosity and density on the dispersion relations of the waves are examined. The results obtained are fundamental and useful to the understanding and design of acoustic wave fluid sensors for measuring fluid viscosity or density. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.