Elastic wave band gaps and defect states in two-dimensional composites

Using the plane-wave expansion method, we study the propagation of elastic waves through two-dimensional (2-D) periodic composites which exhibit full band gaps for all the polarizations and directions of the displacements. Defect states created inside those band gaps are also studied by disturbing the periodicity of the lattice. Systems exhibiting such kinds of states can be used as acoustical filters.