Exact wave-based Bloch analysis procedure for investigating wave propagation in two-dimensional periodic lattices

This paper presents an exact, wave-based approach for determining Bloch waves in two-dimensional periodic lattices. This is in contrast to existing methods which employ approximate approaches (e.g., finite difference, Ritz, finite element, or plane wave expansion methods) to compute Bloch waves in general two-dimensional lattices. The analysis combines the recently introduced wave-based vibration analysis technique with specialized Bloch boundary conditions developed herein. Timoshenko beams with axial extension are used in modeling the lattice members. The Bloch boundary conditions incorporate a propagation constant capturing Bloch wave propagation in a single direction, but applied to all wave directions propagating in the lattice members. This results in a unique and properly posed Bloch analysis. Results are generated for the simple problem of a periodic bi-material beam, and then for the more complex examples of square, diamond, and hexagonal honeycomb lattices. The bi-material beam clearly introduces the concepts, but also allows the Bloch wave mode to be explored using insight from the technique. The square, diamond, and hexagonal honeycomb lattices illustrate application of the developed technique to two-dimensional periodic lattices, and allow comparison to a finite element approach. Differences are noted in the predicted dispersion curves, and therefore band gaps, which are attributed to the exact procedure more-faithfully modeling the finite nature of lattice connection points. The exact method also differs from approximate methods in that the same number of solution degrees of freedom is needed to resolve low frequency, and arbitrarily high frequency, dispersion branches. These advantageous features may make the method attractive to researchers studying dispersion characteristics, band gap behavior, and energy propagation in two-dimensional periodic lattices.