Frequency-dependent open-circuit acoustic sensitivity of fluid-filled, coated, radially polarized piezoelectric ceramic cylindrical shells of arbitrary thickness and infinite length.

The frequency-dependent free-field open-circuit voltage generated by radially polarized piezoelectric ceramic fluid-filled shells of infinite length coated with an elastic layer and excited by a plane acoustic wave is studied. The shell and the coating are of arbitrary thickness and are anisotropic. It is shown that the charge density in the piezoelectric shell is zero by using the electrostatic and open-circuit conditions. General expressions for the pressures and radial velocities in the interior and exterior fluids are obtained by using the finiteness and radiation conditions, respectively. General expressions for the radial stresses and velocities in the piezoelectric shell and elastic coating are also determined by using two-dimensional equations of state and axisymmetric equations of motion. The coefficients in the general expressions are then determined by using the continuity conditions at the various interfaces. Finally, an expression for the open-circuit sensitivity is obtained by using a piezoelectric equation of state. Numerical results are presented for air, water, and vacuum in the interior, two types of elastic coating, and piezoelectric shells with various thicknesses. The effect of neglecting anisotropy on the sensitivity is also illustrated.