Shear surface waves at the interface of two magneto‐electro‐elastic media

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the problem of the existence and propagation of a surface SH wave at the interface of two magneto‐electro‐elastic half‐spaces.

Design/methodology/approach

Equations of motions for magneto‐electro‐elastic materials have been used with coupling between mechanical, electric and magnetic fields. The problem is solved for four different sets of boundary conditions.

Findings

The results show that, for appropriate choice of material parameters, a non dispersive surface wave can propagate at the interface of these media. The existence condition is easier to satisfy for an electrically closed contact or no electromagnetic contact between two half‐spaces. The existence conditions can be easily satisfied for all four sets of boundary conditions if the two half‐spaces have their main symmetry axis, both parallel to the interface and perpendicular to the propagation direction, directed in the opposite directions. In this case the SH surface wave can always propagate if the two media are identical.

Originality/value

The magneto‐electric coupling effect has extensive applications, for example in electronic packaging, acoustic devices and medical ultrasonic imaging. The results of this paper give better understanding of the effects of the boundary conditions on the propagation of SH surface waves in magneto‐electro‐elastic materials.

Citation

Piliposyan, D. (2012), "Shear surface waves at the interface of two magneto‐electro‐elastic media", Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 417-426. https://doi.org/10.1108/15736101211269186