Higher order asymptotic homogenization and wave propagation in periodic composite materials

We present an application of the higher order asymptotic homogenization method (AHM) to the study of wave dispersion in periodic composite materials. When the wavelength of a travelling signal becomes comparable with the size of heterogeneities, successive reflections and refractions of the waves at the component interfaces lead to the formation of a complicated sequence of the pass and stop frequency bands. Application of the AHM provides a long-wave approximation valid in the low-frequency range. Solution for the high frequencies is obtained on the basis of the Floquet–Bloch approach by expanding spatially varying properties of a composite medium in a Fourier series and representing unknown displacement fields by infinite plane-wave expansions. Steady-state elastic longitudinal waves in a composite rod (one-dimensional problem allowing the exact analytical solution) and transverse anti-plane shear waves in a fibre-reinforced composite with a square lattice of cylindrical inclusions (two-dimensional problem) are considered. The dispersion curves are obtained, the pass and stop frequency bands are identified.