Unidirectional focusing for broadband Lamb guided wave based on mode conversion

Abstract Metamaterials promise to revolutionize elastic devices, with applications spanning wireless communication, structural health monitoring and microfluidic technology. Nevertheless, unidirectionally manipulating broadband elastic waves remains challenging due to their inherent complexity of po...

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Main Authors: Haifei Zhu, Xuan Zhang, Wenjie Liu, Houyou Long, Ying Cheng, Xiaojun Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Communications Physics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02032-1
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author Haifei Zhu
Xuan Zhang
Wenjie Liu
Houyou Long
Ying Cheng
Xiaojun Liu
author_facet Haifei Zhu
Xuan Zhang
Wenjie Liu
Houyou Long
Ying Cheng
Xiaojun Liu
author_sort Haifei Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Metamaterials promise to revolutionize elastic devices, with applications spanning wireless communication, structural health monitoring and microfluidic technology. Nevertheless, unidirectionally manipulating broadband elastic waves remains challenging due to their inherent complexity of polarization. Here, we introduce a method to control the transmission of broadband Lamb waves unidirectionally by utilizing mode conversion and selection. The elastic meta-atoms showcased  >30 dB contrast in transmissions between forward and backward illumination scenarios within 251-345.9 kHz. Leveraging the disparity in phase velocities between S 0- and A 0-mode Lamb waves, the meta-atom enables broadband phase modulation. We realize a unidirectional focusing lens that exhibits a concentration of out-of-plane displacements for S 0-mode Lamb waves under forward excitation, while reflecting those excited backward. An enhanced unidirectionally-transmitted meta-atom displaying  <3 dB forward transmission within 293.3-333.6 kHz is further developed by incorporating an A 0-mode reflector. Our proposal advances the manipulation of broadband plate waves, holding significant potential for multifunctional on-chip elastic devices.
format Article
id doaj-art-c794553fcd6d475d9f5252e6ae0b533c
institution Kabale University
issn 2399-3650
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Communications Physics
spelling doaj-art-c794553fcd6d475d9f5252e6ae0b533c2025-08-20T03:40:45ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Physics2399-36502025-03-018111010.1038/s42005-025-02032-1Unidirectional focusing for broadband Lamb guided wave based on mode conversionHaifei Zhu0Xuan Zhang1Wenjie Liu2Houyou Long3Ying Cheng4Xiaojun Liu5Department of Physics, MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Physical Science Research Center, Nanjing UniversityDepartment of Physics, MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Physical Science Research Center, Nanjing UniversityDepartment of Physics, MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Physical Science Research Center, Nanjing UniversityDepartment of Physics, MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Physical Science Research Center, Nanjing UniversityDepartment of Physics, MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Physical Science Research Center, Nanjing UniversityDepartment of Physics, MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Jiangsu Physical Science Research Center, Nanjing UniversityAbstract Metamaterials promise to revolutionize elastic devices, with applications spanning wireless communication, structural health monitoring and microfluidic technology. Nevertheless, unidirectionally manipulating broadband elastic waves remains challenging due to their inherent complexity of polarization. Here, we introduce a method to control the transmission of broadband Lamb waves unidirectionally by utilizing mode conversion and selection. The elastic meta-atoms showcased  >30 dB contrast in transmissions between forward and backward illumination scenarios within 251-345.9 kHz. Leveraging the disparity in phase velocities between S 0- and A 0-mode Lamb waves, the meta-atom enables broadband phase modulation. We realize a unidirectional focusing lens that exhibits a concentration of out-of-plane displacements for S 0-mode Lamb waves under forward excitation, while reflecting those excited backward. An enhanced unidirectionally-transmitted meta-atom displaying  <3 dB forward transmission within 293.3-333.6 kHz is further developed by incorporating an A 0-mode reflector. Our proposal advances the manipulation of broadband plate waves, holding significant potential for multifunctional on-chip elastic devices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02032-1
spellingShingle Haifei Zhu
Xuan Zhang
Wenjie Liu
Houyou Long
Ying Cheng
Xiaojun Liu
Unidirectional focusing for broadband Lamb guided wave based on mode conversion
Communications Physics
title Unidirectional focusing for broadband Lamb guided wave based on mode conversion
title_full Unidirectional focusing for broadband Lamb guided wave based on mode conversion
title_fullStr Unidirectional focusing for broadband Lamb guided wave based on mode conversion
title_full_unstemmed Unidirectional focusing for broadband Lamb guided wave based on mode conversion
title_short Unidirectional focusing for broadband Lamb guided wave based on mode conversion
title_sort unidirectional focusing for broadband lamb guided wave based on mode conversion
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-025-02032-1
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AT wenjieliu unidirectionalfocusingforbroadbandlambguidedwavebasedonmodeconversion
AT houyoulong unidirectionalfocusingforbroadbandlambguidedwavebasedonmodeconversion
AT yingcheng unidirectionalfocusingforbroadbandlambguidedwavebasedonmodeconversion
AT xiaojunliu unidirectionalfocusingforbroadbandlambguidedwavebasedonmodeconversion