Study of surface wave velocity in distinct rheological models with flexoelectric effect in piezoelectric aluminium nitride structure

This study investigates the propagation of surface seismic waves at the loosely bonded interface of a visco-piezoelectric composite structure, incorporating the flexoelectric effect. The structure consists of a viscoelastic layer placed over a piezoelectric substrate, with the upper layer's shear stiffness modelled using the Kelvin–Voigt approach. An analytical method based on the separation of variables is employed to derive the complex dispersion relations for both electrically open- and short-circuit boundary conditions. Numerical simulations reveal the significant influence of various parameters on the wave's phase velocity and attenuation coefficient. Furthermore, a graphical comparison of three rheological models—Maxwell, Newton, and Kelvin–Voigt—is presented. The results show that the attenuation is lower in the Maxwell and Newton models compared to the Kelvin–Voigt model. Key findings include the bonding parameter's direct proportionality with phase velocity and inverse relationship with attenuation, and the pronounced impact of flexoelectricity on both phase velocity and attenuation. This theoretical framework offers insights into the piezo-flexoelectric coupling, with potential applications in designing sensors, actuators, energy harvesters, and nano-electronic devices.