Surface Effects Study: A Continuum Approach From Fundamental Modes to Higher Modes and Topological Polarization in Orthotropic Piezoelectric Materials

Abstract The primary goal of the current work is to investigate how wave propagation influences the performance of surface acoustics wave (SAW) macro- and nano-sensors. Therefore, shear horizontal (SH) waves use the surface piezoelectricity theory to explore SH waves in an orthotropic piezoelectric quasicrystal (PQC) layer overlying an elastic framework (Model I), a piezoelectric substrate, and an orthotropic PQC substrate (model II). This study employs a variable-separable technique. The theoretical forms are constructed and used to present the wavenumber of surface waves in any direction of the piezoelectric medium, based on the differential equations and matrix formulation. In addition, we take into account the surface elasticity theory in order to obtain the phase velocity equation. Two configurations are examined: an orthotropic piezoelectric material layer over an elastic framework and a piezoelectric material half-space with a nanosubstrate. Analytical expressions for frequency equations are derived for both symmetric and antisymmetric waves. This study investigates the effects of surface elastic constants, surface density, anisotropic piezoelectric constant, and symmetric and antisymmetric modes on phase velocity. This study is confined to only linear wave propagation. Additionally, the analysis is based on idealized material properties, surface properties, and characteristic length of the material.