Periodic structures for frequency filtering: analysis and optimization

The European noise directives and other legislation increased the importance of frequency filter design. Floquet–Bloch finite element analysis and optimization techniques are described to deal with the periodic structural design problem. The main advantage of periodic structures is simple fabrication. The results are presented to illustrate how a material distribution inside a cell can create band-gaps in the dispersion curves of wave propagation. In this way, we systematically design simple frequency filters that maximize specific band-gaps within the dispersion curves.