Most of the existing mechanical (elastic or acoustic) metamaterial concepts are not easily reconfigurable to adapt to varying excitation conditions or to execute task switching on demand. Piezoelectric metamaterials with synthetic impedance circuits offer an enormous potential to meet the need for enabling electronically reconfigurable, hence programmable metamaterials that can switch between various tasks conveniently. In this work, we present a fully coupled electromechanical modeling and analysis framework, numerical simulations, and experimental validations of a new class of fully programmable, digitally controlled piezoelectric metamaterials for manipulating elastic waves in structures. In the first set of concepts, an elastic waveguide (thin beam) is connected to synthetic impedance circuits as active elements to enable simultaneous control over center frequency, attenuation, and bandwidth of resonant bandgaps. Numerical simulations and experimental results demonstrate digital tuning over a wide frequency range that spans several modes of the waveguide. Additionally we demonstrate opportunities in extending resonant bandgap formation in periodic shunts to non-trivial bandgap formation associated with quasiperiodic arrangement of the resonant shunts. Further simulations are presented for non-reciprocal wave propagation and energy localization. With an unprecedented control over effective metamaterial properties in space and time, the theoretical framework and the experimental platform presented here are expected to open new avenues for novel wave devices.


Elastic Wave Manipulation Using Programmable Piezoelectric Metamaterials

Division / Sponsors: 
Aerospace Division

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/SMASIS/SMASIS2020/volume/84027

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