Finite Element Modeling of Acoustic Wave Scattering and Trajectory Controls in Active Piezocomposite Metamaterials

International Journal of Physics | Vol. 16, No. 4, April 2025 | pp. 25–32

DOI: 10.46882/2025/IJP/000180

Research Article

Title: Finite Element Modeling of Acoustic Wave Scattering and Trajectory Controls in Active Piezocomposite Metamaterials

Names of Authors: P. J. O’Connor¹, S. H. Zhang²

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
² Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Abstract: Controlling acoustic paths in structural and underwater environments is essential for adaptive noise insulation, structural wave management components, and specialized sub-aquatic tracking arrays. This study presents a finite element modeling framework to simulate acoustic wave scattering and track wave redirection profiles within active piezocomposite acoustic metamaterials. The design leverages a coordinate-transformation method applied to Biot's dynamic poroelastic equations to determine the required anisotropic distribution of density and elastic moduli tensors across the shell. We performed numerical scattering simulations across an ultrasonic frequency band from 20.0 kHz to 100.0 kHz. The computational models show that a cylindrical cloak constructed with 32 concentric sub-wavelength layers successfully routes an incident acoustic wave around a central cavity. This active configuration reduces the total scattering cross-section by 84.0% at a design frequency of 50.0 kHz. We analyzed the impact of electrical boundary configurations, demonstrating that adaptive inductive shunt routing modifies the effective bulk modulus tensor to accommodate shifts in fluid pressures. Experimental validation was carried out using 3D-printed perforated piezoceramic rings immersed in water, matching simulated fields within a tight ±4.8% error margin.

Keywords: Acoustic metamaterials; finite element modeling; wave redirection; Biot's theory; piezocomposites; active shunts

Manuscript Timeline: Received: January 08, 2025; Revised: February 18, 2025; Accepted: March 05, 2025; Published: April 11, 2025

Citation: O’Connor, P. J., & Zhang, S. H. (2025). Finite Element Modeling of Acoustic Wave Scattering and Trajectory Controls in Active Piezocomposite Metamaterials. International Journal of Physics, 16(4), 25–32.

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