Rayleigh waves in an elastic half-space with a hard sphere-filled metasurface

Abstract

In spite of extensive recent research on surface waves in metamaterials, Rayleigh waves with a metasurface layer filled with coated or uncoated hard spheres seem to be explored. In this work, based on an effective medium model for hard sphere-filled metacomposites, an analysis is given for Rayleigh surface waves of an elastic half-space covered by a thin metasurface layer filled with coated or uncoated hard spheres. Explicit Rayleigh wave speed-frequency relation is derived, and the lower and upper bounds of bandgap for Rayleigh waves are determined explicitly. Several examples based on physically relevant material constants are discussed, with clear general conclusions on Rayleigh waves with a thin elastic layer filled with coated or uncoated hard spheres.