Analysis of Cylindrical Membrane Effects on Shear‐Horizontal Wave Propagation in PFRC Core–Shell Structures

ABSTRACT This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of shear‐horizontal (SH) wave propagation in a novel cylindrical core‐shell structure composed of a piezoelectric fiber‐reinforced composite (PFRC) core encased by a concentric isotropic elastic shell. Three different types of imperfect interfaces are examined in detail: (a) a spring interface, (b) a membrane interface, and (c) a spring–membrane combined interface. The analysis, carried out in cylindrical coordinates, focuses on circumferential wave motion relevant to advanced structural and biomedical applications. The anisotropic behavior of the PFRC core, derived from the micro‐mechanical arrangement of aligned piezoelectric fibers in an epoxy matrix, is fully incorporated, while the isotropic coating provides the necessary mechanical contrast to highlight interfacial effects. A thin cylindrical elastic membrane is introduced to replicate interfacial bonding or compliant layers typically observed in layered manufacturing and implantable devices, where its presence induces mode conversion and significantly modifies wave dynamics. A coupled electromechanical model is formulated, and dispersion relations for guided SH modes are derived using variable separation methods with Bessel and Hankel functions. The model is validated through limiting cases. Parametric studies investigate the influence of core–shell radii, spring stiffness, membrane density and elastic constant, and PFRC fiber volume fraction. Numerical results, illustrated through dispersion curves, 3D surface plots, and time‐dependent fields of displacement and electric potential, demonstrate how the three interface models distinctly affect wave behavior. The study highlights the potential of interface‐engineered cylindrical composites for tunable SH‐wave propagation and tailored electromechanical response.