Bandgap merging and backward wave propagation in inertial amplification metamaterials

The aim of this study is to investigate the wave propagation characteristics of one-dimensional inertial amplification (IA) metamaterials with double resonators. The IA Angle is introduced by the IA mechanism as a critical parameter to modulate elastic waves. Double attenuation peaks in the bandgaps caused by coupling the IA mechanism and local resonance can be created in different ranges by adjusting the IA Angle. Moreover, a novel phenomenon of negative relative group velocity is observed in the region of double-negative effective properties, denoting negative energy flow. Numerical simulations using Gaussian pulse excitation are performed to validate the existence of a backward wave corresponding to the negative relative group velocity in the time domain. Furthermore, bandgap merging occurs in the region of double-zero effective properties, resulting in broadband wave attenuation. In particular, instead of using traditional metamaterials, two local resonator bandgaps can be merged to expand the bandgap range by at least 30% without changing the unit cell mass. The research results can be used to tune wave propagation in metamaterials, providing ideas for metamaterial design.