Exploring the influence of coupled interfacial imperfections on SH wave propagation in layered structures with sliding interaction

Present study delves into realm of coupled interfacial imperfections and their influence on propagation characteristics of shear horizontal (SH) waves in piezoelectric layered structures. The research scenario involves a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between exponentially graded piezoelectric superstrate and fiber-reinforced substratum, with specific boundary conditions at play. The upper boundary is treated as electrode, while the upper interface is considered both mechanically and electrically bonded. In contrast, the lower interface is configured with sliding contact conditions. Leveraging derived displacement components and applying pertinent boundary conditions, the dispersion equation is derived for both electrically open and short cases. To ascertain the validity and credibility of derived dispersion equation, results have been compared with established results from prior research and classical Love wave equation. Study further extends to numerical simulations and graphical demonstrations, which encompass a range of piezoelectric materials. Through comparative analysis, we uncover intriguing characteristics and analyse the significant influence of heterogeneity, electro-mechanical bonding parameters, and piezoelectric constants, along with dielectric properties, on the dispersion behaviour. This work not only advances the fundamental understanding of SH wave phenomena in composite structures but will also be useful in applications fields such as engineering geology, sensor technology, and geophysical exploration.