Patch sticking for efficient mode-converting transmission of elastic waves

Abstract The concept of patch sticking, which can be widely seen in daily life, such as medical care and houseware repair, is introduced in this work for wave manipulation. Specifically, we stick an array of patches on an aluminum plate for efficient mode conversion between in-plane longitudinal and transverse waves. The patches have a carefully designed dimension, and are stuck with specific distances and angles. The working mechanism is revealed through eigen-frequency analysis, and experimental validation is carried out. Our work offers a simple and convenient solution for elastic wave manipulation, and could inspire the design of novel meta-devices.