A simple mass oscillator metasurface design with linear phase shift

In this paper, a simple mass oscillator metasurface is designed, which can regulate the phase shift of flexural wave covering 0-2π by adjusting the number of mass oscillators on the connecting bar. Based on the forced vibration theory, there is a simple approximately linear relationship between the number and phase shift of mass oscillators, which can more intuitively and accurately predict the phase of different number of mass oscillators, and then realize the metasurface design of mass oscillators with different requirements. Therefore, arbitrary regulation of flexural waves, such as abnormal refraction, beam focusing, and self-acceleration, can be realized by reasonably arranging the number of mass oscillators. The results show that the proposed metasurface can be greatly simplified both in the establishment of phase shift relation and in the fabrication of structure configuration, and will have broad application potential in the engineering field.

Study of flexural wave propagation through a cable stayed beam subjected to a moving load

A physical perspective of the propagation and attenuation of flexural waves is presented in this paper for the dynamic behaviors of cable stayed beams subjected to a moving load. Based on the method of reverberation-ray matrix (MRRM), the waveform solutions of the wave equations of a simplified beam-cable system subjected to a moving load (hereinafter referred to as a beam-cable system) are given, and the theory is verified by a numerical example. The dynamic response of cable stayed beams is decomposed into nine kinds of flexural waves, including traveling waves, near-field waves, and nondispersive waves, according to the wavenumber characteristics. Numerical examples are analyzed to demonstrate the propagation characteristics of flexural waves through cable stayed beams. Numerical results show that the flexural waves in the cable stayed beams are mainly low-frequency waves whose frequencies are less than 3 times the structural fundamental frequency, which can be used to further improve the computational efficiency of response analysis method based on MRRM, and the proportion of high-frequency components increases gradually with increasing structural stiffness. The near-field wave can be transformed into a traveling shear wave when its frequency is larger than the critical frequency, which decreases with increasing radius of gyration and decreasing elastic modulus of the beam. With the increase in the radius of gyration and the elastic modulus of the beam, the attenuation effect of the near-field wave weakens. The wave velocity and the wave dispersion effect have a positive correlation with the stiffness-related parameters of the beam-cable system. The study of the effect of the beam-cable system parameters on flexural wave propagation characteristics can be applied to achieve a better dynamic design for engineering structures.

Tunability for anomalous refraction of flexural wave in a magneto-elastic metasurface by magnetic field and pre-stress

This letter reports the design of a magneto-elastic metasurface composed of arrayed Terfenol-D pillars deposited on a homogeneous Aluminum plate, aiming to realize the tunability of flexural wave anomalous propagation without altering the structure. Considering the magneto-mechanical coupling of magnetostrictive materials, the phase shift and transmission of functional unit can be calculated. The anomalous refraction of incident flexural wave (i.e., negative refraction) can be accomplished by adjusting magnetic field and pre-stress properly, the refraction angle is remarkably affected by magnetic distribution. The proposed metasurface provides a method for flexible tunability of elastic wave in the fields of vibration/noise control.

Crack propagation speeds in weak snowpack layers

For the release of a slab avalanche, crack propagation within a weak snowpack layer below a cohesive snow slab is required. As crack speed measurements can give insight into underlying processes, we analysed three crack propagation events that occurred in similar snowpacks and covered all scales relevant for avalanche release. For the largest scale, up to 400 m, we estimated crack speed from an avalanche movie; for scales between 5 and 25 m, we used accelerometers placed on the snow surface and for scales below 5 m, we performed a propagation saw test. The mean crack speeds ranged from 36 ± 6 to 49 ± 5 m s−1, and did not exhibit scale dependence. Using the discrete element method and the material point method, we reproduced the measured crack speeds reasonably well, in particular the terminal crack speed observed at smaller scales. Finally, we used a finite element model to assess the speed of different elastic waves in a layered snowpack. Results suggest that the observed cracks propagated as mixed mode closing cracks and that the flexural wave of the slab is responsible for the energy transfer to the crack tip.

Water flow through sediments and at the ice-sediment interface beneath Sermeq Kujalleq (Store Glacier), Greenland

Subglacial hydrology modulates basal motion but remains poorly constrained, particularly for soft-bedded Greenlandic outlet glaciers. Here, we report detailed measurements of the response of subglacial water pressure to the connection and drainage of adjacent water-filled boreholes drilled through kilometre-thick ice on Sermeq Kujalleq (Store Glacier). These measurements provide evidence for gap opening at the ice-sediment interface, Darcian flow through the sediment layer, and the forcing of water pressure in hydraulically-isolated cavities by stress transfer. We observed a small pressure drop followed by a large pressure rise in response to the connection of an adjacent borehole, consistent with the propagation of a flexural wave within the ice and underlying deformable sediment. We interpret the delayed pressure rise as evidence of no pre-existing conduit and the progressive decrease in hydraulic transmissivity as the closure of a narrow (< 1.5 mm) gap opened at the ice-sediment interface, and a reversion to Darcian flow through the sediment layer with a hydraulic conductivity of ≤ 10−6 m s−1. We suggest that gap opening at the ice-sediment interface deserves further attention as it will occur naturally in response to the rapid pressurisation of water at the bed.