Propagation of Bleustein-Gulyaev waves in a prestressed layered piezoelectric structure

Based on the theories of nonlinear continuum mechanics, piezoelectricity and elastic waves in solids, theoretical analysis of Bleustein-Gulyaev surface acoustic wave propagation in a prestressed layered piezoelectric structure are described. Numerical calculations are performed for the case that the layer and the substrate are identical LiNbO3 except that they are polarized in opposite directions. It is found that an almost linear behavior of the relative change in phase velocity versus the initial stress is obtained for both surface electrically free and shorted cases. Potential applications in the design of acoustic wave devices are suggested. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.