Scattering of antiplane shear wave by a piezoelectric circular cylinder with an imperfect interface

Summary We present analytical solutions for the scattering of an antiplane shear wave by a piezoelectric circular cylinder with an imperfect interface. We first consider the simple case in which the imperfection is homogeneous along the interface. Two typical imperfect interfaces are addressed: 1) mechanically compliant and dielectrically weakly conducting interface, and 2) mechanically compliant and dielectrically highly conducting interface. The expressions for the directivity pattern and scattering cross-section of the scattered shear waves are derived. We then investigate the more difficult problem in which the imperfection is circumferentially inhomogeneous along the interface. A concise expression for an inhomogeneously compliant and weakly conducting interface is derived by means of matrix notation. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effect of the imperfection and the circumferential inhomogeneity of the interface on the directivity patterns and scattering cross-sections of the scattered shear wave. The circumferentially inhomogeneous interface is also utilized to model the interface where an arbitrary number of cracks exist. Results show that when every part of the interface is rather compliant, large low-frequency peaks of the scattered cross-sections, which correspond to the resonance scattering, can be observed no matter if the interface is homogeneous or inhomogeneous. The appearance of large low-frequency peaks can be well explained by estimating the natural frequency of the corresponding reduced mass-spring system where the cylinder is assumed as a rigid body. Peaks of the scattered cross-sections spanning from low frequencies to high frequencies can be observed for a cylinder with a partially debonded interface.