Stress wave analysis of thermo-piezoelectric solid bar of polygonal cross-sections immersed in fluid
Authors: Ponnusamy Palaniyandi 
Published: October 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to study the problem of wave propagation in an infinite, homogeneous, transversely isotropic thermo-piezoelectric solid bar of polygonal (triangle, square, pentagon and hexagon) cross-section immersed in fluid is using Fourier expansion collocation method, with in the frame work of linearized, three-dimensional theory of thermo-piezoelectricity.

Design/methodology/approach
– A mathematical model is developed to study the wave propagation in an infinite, homogeneous, transversely isotropic thermo-piezoelectric solid bar of polygonal cross-sections immersed in fluid is studied using the three-dimensional theory of elasticity. Three displacement potential functions are introduced, to uncouple the equations of motion and the heat and electric conductions. The frequency equations are obtained for longitudinal and flexural (symmetric and antisymmetric) modes of vibration and are studied numerically for triangular, square, pentagonal and hexagonal cross-sectional bar immersed in fluid. Since the boundary is irregular in shape; it is difficult to satisfy the boundary conditions along the curved surface of the polygonal bar directly. Hence, the Fourier expansion collocation method is applied along the boundary to satisfy the boundary conditions. The roots of the frequency equations are obtained by using the secant method, applicable for complex roots.

Findings
– From the literature survey, it is clear that the free vibration of an infinite, homogeneous, transversely isotropic thermo-piezoelectric solid bar of polygonal cross-sectional bar immersed in fluid have not been analyzed by any of the researchers, also the previous investigations in the vibration problems of transversely isotropic thermo-piezoelectric solid bar of circular cross-sections only. So, in this paper, the wave propagation in thermo-piezoelectric cylindrical bar of polygonal cross-sections immersed in fluid are studied using the Fourier expansion collocation method. The computed non-dimensional frequencies are plotted in the form of dispersion curves and its characteristics are discussed, also a comparison is made between non-dimensional wave numbers for longitudinal and flexural modes piezoelectric, thermo-piezoelectric and thermo-piezoelectric polygonal cross-sectional bars immersed in fluid.

Research limitations/implications
– Wave propagation in an infinite, homogeneous, transversely isotropic thermo-piezoelectric solid bar of polygonal cross-sectional bar immersed in fluid have not been analyzed by any of the researchers, also the previous investigations in the vibration problems of transversely isotropic thermo-piezoelectric solid bar of circular cross-sections only. So, in this paper, the wave propagation in thermo-piezoelectric cylindrical bar of polygonal cross-sections immersed in fluid are studied using the Fourier expansion collocation method. The computed non-dimensional frequencies are plotted in the form of dispersion curves and its characteristics are discussed, also a comparison is made between non-dimensional wave numbers for longitudinal and flexural modes of piezoelectric, thermo-piezoelectric and thermo-piezoelectric polygonal cross-sectional bars immersed in fluid.

Originality/value
– The researchers have discussed the wave propagation in thermo-piezoelectric circular cylinders using three-dimensional theory of thermo-piezoelectricity, but, the researchers did not analyzed the wave propagation in an arbitrary/polygonal cross-sectional bar immersed in fluid. So, the author has studied the free vibration analysis of thermo-piezoelectric polygonal (triangle, square, pentagon and hexagon) cross-sectional bar immersed in fluid using three-dimensional theory elasticity. The problem may be extended to any kinds of cross-sections by using the proper geometrical relations.