Mode localization phenomenon analysis on infinite ribbed plates

Abstract

An analysis of the mode localization phenomenon is demonstrated for disordered structural systems of infinite ribbed plates in air and in water. While for infinite ordered ribbed plates there exist frequency passbands for which vibrations propagate extensively throughout the structure, the introduction of disorder disables the propagation of vibrations to arbitrarily large distances and confines vibrations within a region close to the excitation force. Based upon the mathematical model built in a paper to be published, inertance transfer functions and vibrational responses due to line force excitation are implemented to investigate the passband and stopband characteristics and the localization phenomenon of multiple-rib plates in air and in water. Two facts are confirmed. First, water provides an energy path that reduces the decoupling effect between the bays of ribbed plates observed in the presence of air and consequently, diminishes the localization phenomenon. Second, passbands can merge at certain frequencies, as determined by rib size and dynamic properties, but have nothing to do with the number of ribs or the transmission span. For completeness, acoustic responses are presented for some specific cases of the structural system as well.