Theory and Experiments on Elastic Band Gaps

We study elastic band gaps in nonhomogeneous periodic finite media. The finite-difference time-domain method is used for the first time in the field of elastic band-gap materials. It is used to interpret experimental data for two-dimensional systems consisting of cylinders of fluids (Hg, air, and oil) inserted periodically in a finite slab of aluminum host. The method provides good convergence, can be applied to realistic finite composite slabs, even to composites with a huge contrast in the elastic parameters of their components, and describes well the experiments.