Wave propagation in continuous periodic structures: Research contributions from Southampton, 1964-1995

After brief reference to some early studies by other investigators, this paper focuses mainly on methods developed at the University of Southampton since 1964 to analyze and predict the free and forced wave motion in continuous periodic engineering structures. Beginning with receptance methods which have been applied to periodic beams and rib-skin structures, it continues with a method of direct solution of the wave equation. This uses Floquet's principle and has been applied to beams and quasi-one-dimensional periodic plates and cylindrical shells. Sample curves of the propagation and attenuation constants pertaining to these structures are presented. A limited discussion of the transfer matrix then follows, after which the method of space-harmonics is introduced as the method best suited to the prediction of sound radiated from a vibrating periodic structure. Reviewed next are some theorems and variational principles relating to periodic structures which have been developed at Southampton, and which form a basis for finding natural frequencies of finite structures or for computing free and forced wave motion by energy methods. This has led to the finite element method (in its standard and hierarchical forms) being used to study wave motion in genuine two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures. Examples of this work are shown. The method of phased array receptance functions is then introduced as possibly the easiest way of setting up exact equations for the propagation constants of uniform quasi-one-dimensional periodic structures. A summary is finally presented of the limited and early work performed at Southampton on simple disordered periodic structures. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited