  Physics-based computational models play a key role in the study of wave
propagation for structural health monitoring (SHM) and the development of
improved damage detection methodologies. Due to the complex nature of guided
waves, accurate and efficient computation tools are necessary to investigate
the mechanisms responsible for dispersion, coupling, and interaction with
damage. In this paper, a fully coupled electromechanical elastodynamic model
for wave propagation in a heterogeneous, anisotropic material system is
developed. The final framework provides the full three dimensional displacement
and electrical potential fields for arbitrary plate and transducer geometries
and excitation waveform and frequency. The model is validated theoretically and
proven computationally efficient. Studies are performed with surface bonded
piezoelectric sensors to gain insight into the physics of experimental
techniques used for SHM. Collocated actuation of the fundamental Lamb wave
modes is modeled over a range of frequencies to demonstrate mode tuning
capabilities. The displacement of the sensing surface is compared to the
piezoelectric sensor electric potential to investigate the relationship between
plate displacement and sensor voltage output. Since many studies, including the
ones investigated in this paper, are difficult to perform experimentally, the
developed model provides a valuable tool for the improvement of SHM techniques.
