Negative refraction and mode trapping of flexural-torsional waves in elastic lattices.

We consider the propagation of flexural and torsional waves in a square lattice of Euler-Bernoulli beams. The refraction and reflection of waves across interfaces between two dissimilar lattices is investigated. By carefully controlling the inertial and elastic properties of the lattice elements, we demonstrate that it is possible to induce negative refraction and other associated phenomena. These effects are shown to be broadband and are facilitated by the unprecedented control over wave propagation afforded by the interaction between torsional and flexural waves and the additional freedom associated with the applied forcing. Closed-form analytical findings are accompanied by numerical simulations, which demonstrate negative refraction, unidirectional reflection and mode trapping. This article is part of the theme issue 'Wave generation and transmission in multi-scale complex media and structured metamaterials (part 2)'.

One-way interfacial waves in a flexural plate with chiral double resonators.

In this paper, we demonstrate a new approach to control flexural elastic waves in a structured chiral plate. The main focus is on creating one-way interfacial wave propagation at a given frequency by employing double resonators in a doubly periodic flexural system. The resonators consist of two beams attached to gyroscopic spinners, which act to couple flexural and rotational deformations, hence inducing chirality in the system. We show that this elastic structure supports one-way flexural waves, localized at an interface separating two sub-domains with gyroscopes spinning in opposite directions, but with otherwise identical properties. We demonstrate that a special feature of double resonators is in the directional control of wave propagation by varying the value of the gyricity, while keeping the frequency of the external time-harmonic excitation fixed. Conversely, for the same value of gyricity, the direction of wave propagation can be reversed by tuning the frequency of the external excitation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Modelling of dynamic phenomena and localization in structured media (part 2)'.

An asymptotic hyperbolic-elliptic model for flexural-seismic metasurfaces.

We consider a periodic array of resonators, formed from Euler-Bernoulli beams, attached to the surface of an elastic half-space. Earlier studies of such systems have concentrated on compressional resonators. In this paper, we consider the effect of the flexural motion of the resonators, adapting a recently established asymptotic methodology that leads to an explicit scalar hyperbolic equation governing the propagation of Rayleigh-like waves. Compared with classical approaches, the asymptotic model yields a significantly simpler dispersion relation, with closed-form solutions, shown to be accurate for surface wave-speeds close to that of the Rayleigh wave. Special attention is devoted to the effect of various junction conditions joining the beams to the elastic half-space which arise from considering flexural motion and are not present for the case of purely compressional resonators. Such effects are shown to provide significant and interesting features and, in particular, the choice of junction conditions dramatically changes the distribution and sizes of stop bands. Given that flexural vibrations in thin beams are excited more readily than compressional modes and the ability to model elastic surface waves using the scalar wave equation (i.e. waves on a membrane), the paper provides new pathways towards novel experimental set-ups for elastic metasurfaces.

Cymatics for the cloaking of flexural vibrations in a structured plate.

Based on rigorous theoretical findings, we present a proof-of-concept design for a structured square cloak enclosing a void in an elastic lattice. We implement high-precision fabrication and experimental testing of an elastic invisibility cloak for flexural waves in a mechanical lattice. This is accompanied by verifications and numerical modelling performed through finite element simulations. The primary advantage of our square lattice cloak, over other designs, is the straightforward implementation and the ease of construction. The elastic lattice cloak, implemented experimentally, shows high efficiency.

Rayleigh-Bloch waves along elastic diffraction gratings.

Rayleigh-Bloch (RB) waves in elasticity, in contrast to those in scalar wave systems, appear to have had little attention. Despite the importance of RB waves in applications, their connections to trapped modes and the ubiquitous nature of diffraction gratings, there has been no investigation of whether such waves occur within elastic diffraction gratings for the in-plane vector elastic system. We identify boundary conditions that support such waves and numerical simulations confirm their presence. An asymptotic technique is also developed to generate effective medium homogenized equations for the grating that allows us to replace the detailed microstructure by a continuum representation. Further numerical simulations confirm that the asymptotic scheme captures the essential features of these waves.

Making waves round a structured cloak: lattices, negative refraction and fringes.

Using the framework of transformation optics, this paper presents a detailed analysis of a non-singular square cloak for acoustic, out-of-plane shear elastic and electromagnetic waves. Analysis of wave propagation through the cloak is presented and accompanied by numerical illustrations. The efficacy of the regularized cloak is demonstrated and an objective numerical measure of the quality of the cloaking effect is provided. It is demonstrated that the cloaking effect persists over a wide range of frequencies. As a demonstration of the effectiveness of the regularized cloak, a Young's double slit experiment is presented. The stability of the interference pattern is examined when a cloaked and uncloaked obstacle are successively placed in front of one of the apertures. This novel link with a well-known quantum mechanical experiment provides an additional method through which the quality of cloaks may be examined. In the second half of the paper, it is shown that an approximate cloak may be constructed using a discrete lattice structure. The efficiency of the approximate lattice cloak is analysed and a series of illustrative simulations presented. It is demonstrated that effective cloaking may be obtained by using a relatively simple lattice structure, particularly, in the low-frequency regime.