Frequency-dependent localization length of SH-wave in randomly disordered piezoelectric phononic crystals

In this paper, the localization length that represents the distance of elastic waves propagating along the disordered periodic structures is defined as the reciprocal of the smallest positive Lyapunov exponent, i.e. the localization factor. The algorithm for determining all the Lyapunov exponents in continuous dynamic systems presented by Wolf et al. is employed to calculate those in discrete dynamic systems. Numerical results of the localization lengths of SH-wave are presented and discussed in ordered and disordered piezoelectric phononic crystals to identify the different effect degrees for the decay of electrical potential in the polymers and the randomness on the localization level. For the disordered case, disorder in the thickness of the polymers and disorder in the elastic constant of the piezoelectric ceramics are all considered. The results show that some parameters such as the incident angle of elastic wave, the randomness degree and the piezoelectricity of piezoelectric ceramics and so on have pronounced effects on the frequency-dependent localization length. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.