Plane harmonic waves in transversely isotropic piezothermoelastic materials

The aim of the paper is to study the propagation of plane harmonic waves in homogeneous, piezothermoelastic materials having hexagonal symmetry. After deriving the secular equation, it is found that four dispersive modes are possible. The low and high frequency approximations for the propagation speeds and attenuation coefficients have been obtained for quasi-longitudinal (QL), quasi-transverse (QT), and quasi-thermal (T-mode) by using the theory of algebraic functions. The limiting cases of the frequency equation have also been discussed in addition to the paths of particles during the motion. The paths of particles during the motion have been found to be elliptic, in general. The velocities and attenuation coefficients for various waves have been computed numerically for cadmium selenide material (6mm class) having hexagonal symmetry and are represented graphically. The inclinations of major axes of the paths of particles of QL and QT waves during the motion with wave normal have also been computed and represented graphically with respect to frequency.