Circumferential wave in functionally graded piezoelectric cylindrical curved plates

Functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM), with a gradual change of the mechanical and electric properties, has large fields of application. Based on linear three-dimensional piezoelasticity, a Legendre orthogonal polynomial series expansion approach is used for determining the characteristics of circumferential waves in FGPM cylindrical curved plates. Our results from an FGPM cylindrical curved plate with a large ratio of radius to thickness are compared with an FGPM flat plate published earlier to confirm the accuracy and range of applicability of the computational program. Circumferential wave dispersion curves for FGPM and the corresponding FGM cylindrical curved plates are calculated and the effect of piezoelectricity is shown. The influence of the ratio of radius to thickness on the piezoelectric effect and electric potential distribution is discussed. The ratio has a significant influence on the electric potential distribution. Finally, the influence of the polarizing direction on the piezoelectric effect is illustrated. The phenomenon that piezoelectricity weakens the guided wave dispersion in the FGPM cylindrical plate is observed.