Dispersive Elastodynamics of 1D Banded Materials and Structures: Design

TL;DR

This paper introduces a multiscale design approach for 1D banded materials that enables tailored wave dispersion properties for vibration and shock isolation without damping, demonstrated through case studies.

Contribution

A novel hierarchical design methodology for 1D periodic structures that allows precise control over frequency band properties and energy propagation characteristics.

Findings

Effective vibration and shock isolation achieved without damping.

Structures exhibit robustness to geometric variations.

Design enables control over energy propagation speed.

Abstract

Within periodic materials and structures, wave scattering and dispersion occur across constituent material interfaces leading to a banded frequency response. In an earlier paper, the elastodynamics of one-dimensional periodic materials and finite structures comprising these materials were examined with an emphasis on their frequency-dependent characteristics. In this work, a novel design paradigm is presented whereby periodic unit cells are designed for desired frequency band properties, and with appropriate scaling, these cells are used as building blocks for forming fully periodic or partially periodic structures with related dynamical characteristics. Through this multiscale dispersive design methodology, which is hierarchical and integrated, structures can be devised for effective vibration or shock isolation without needing to employ dissipative damping mechanisms. The speed of energy propagation in a designed structure can also be dictated through synthesis of the unit cells. Case studies are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology for several applications. Results are given from sensitivity analyses that indicate a high level of robustness to geometric variation.