First Full-Scale 2D Field Experiment on Semi-Embedded Rubber Column Metamaterials: Enhanced Attenuation of Love Waves and Mechanistic Insights

Despite recent numerical simulations and limited laboratory studies highlighting the potential of semi-embedded seismic metamaterials (SEM) in attenuating Rayleigh waves, their real-world effectiveness remains unverified, particularly for Love waves. Love waves pose significant destructive risks to slender structures but have rarely been the focus of research. To address this gap, we present the first full-scale 2D field experiment on an SEM composed of an array of semi-embedded rubber column resonators. The experimental results reveal a global bandgap spanning 25–37 Hz and a localized bandgap at 37–42 Hz. At the central frequency of the global bandgap (f0 = 31 Hz), the attenuation reaches −9.3 dB for Love waves and −5.3 dB for Rayleigh waves, with the mitigation of Love waves being notably pronounced. Furthermore, our theoretical and experimental analyses provide novel mechanistic insights: the primary energy dissipation in flexible rubber resonators arises from the resonance of their exposed above-ground sections, while the underground buried parts introduce damping that moderately reduces the efficiency of surface wave attenuation. This pioneering full-scale on-site validation bridges the critical gap between simulation-based predictions and practical seismic protection systems, providing valuable reference for the engineering application of SEM, especially for mitigating destructive waves.