Title: On the feasibility of structural metamaterials for seismic-induced vibration mitigation

Authors: Paul Remo Wagner; Vasilis K. Dertimanis; Ioannis A. Antoniadis; Eleni N. Chatzi

Addresses: Institute of Structural Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland ' Institute of Structural Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece ' Institute of Structural Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

Abstract: This paper summarizes recent efforts toward development of locally resonant metamaterial structures for seismic isolation purposes. The metamaterial structure forms a blind zone in the frequency domain, inhibiting the propagation of waves characterised by frequencies lying within this range. The feasibility of fashioning such systems in the [0.5, 5] Hz frequency band, linked to earthquake induced response, is here explored. An analytical and numerical investigation is undertaken relying on Bloch's theory and classical vibration analysis. The analysed case-studies pertain to both one-dimensional and two-dimensional mass-in-mass lattice systems investigated for overlapping sub-bands. On the basis of the offered analysis, a basic unit cell design is proposed, and a parametric study is carried out revealing the critical influence of the external-to-internal stiffness ratios adopted for the unit cell design. A further discussion is offered with respect to limitations and extensions of the proposed designs.

Keywords: seismic isolation; metamaterials; metastructures; Bloch theory; 1D vibration response analysis; 2D vibration response analysis; periodic lattice; mass-in-mass unit cells; band gaps; earthquakes; wave propagation; unit cell design; external-to-internal stiffness ratios.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIE.2016.080032

International Journal of Earthquake and Impact Engineering, 2016 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.20 - 56

Received: 05 Jul 2016
Accepted: 05 Jul 2016
Published online: 29 Oct 2016 *

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