Mode switchable guided elastic wave transducer based on piezoelectric fibre patches

An improved transducer for shear horizontal guided waves is presented. Two ideas are combined: (1) the generation of pure shear tractions by stapling two piezoelectric fiber patches and (2) matching the excitation pattern with the spatial-time behaviour of the intended wave. The spatial pattern is determined by the structure of the interdigital electrodes. One possible realization of the electrode layout is selected, and the performance of this type of transducers is demonstrated by FEM modelling of the generated wave field. The results are discussed and scheduled further work which is indicated.