Broadening bandgap width of piezoelectric metamaterial by introducing cavity

In this research, a semi-analytical model of the adaptive piezoelectric metamaterial, built upon continuum mechanics characterization, was formulated and analyzed to reveal the fundamental features of bandgap with respect to unit-cell parameters under transverse wave. A new mechanism to broaden the bandgap width, was then introduced through geometric cavity synthesis. It was demonstrated that the cavities incorporated into the host structure of the piezoelectric metamaterial can increase the electro-mechanical coupling of the system, which effectively yields broadened bandgap width. Case studies were performed to demonstrate the enhanced performance of the new design, as well as the tunability. Compared with the conventional piezoelectric metamaterial, the metamaterial with cavity synthesis can increase the bandgap width from 45 Hz to 126.7 Hz.