Thermoelastic interactions on the propagation of surface waves in a piezoelectric half-space: A comparative analysis of GN-III type and three-phase-lag model

This study elucidates the propagation of surface (Rayleigh type) waves in a homogeneous, transversely isotropic, piezothermoelastic half-space subjected to stress free, electrically open or shorted, and thermally insulated or isothermal boundary conditions, based on GN-III type and three-phase-lag thermoelastic models. Plane harmonic wave solutions are employed to find the mechanical displacements, electrical potential, and temperature change. With the aid of these expressions, stresses, electrical displacement, and temperature gradient are derived. Based on different boundary conditions, four secular equations are derived in the considered half-space. Path of the surface particles traces an elliptic path in vertical plane parallel to the direction of wave propagation and the eccentricity of the ellipse is calculated. Particle path degenerates a straight line when there is no phase difference between vertical and horizontal components of displacements. A pre-established analysis is discussed as a particular case of this study. Effect of various characteristics of waves like phase velocity, attenuation coefficient, and specific loss is demonstrated graphically for the GN-III type and three-phase-lag thermoelastic models engaging cadmium selenide (6 mm class) material of hexagonal symmetry. This mathematical framework may be utilized to design and develop temperature sensors, and other piezoelectric surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices.