Elastic filter based on coupled resonator waveguides in phononic crystal slabs

In this paper we demonstrate the possibility of forming a new elastic filter structure based on the coupled resonator waveguides in phononic crystal slabs (CRAW) with superior performance over the conventional filters. The structures are made by etching a honeycomb array of holes in a free standing slab. This phononic slab structure exhibits an absolute phononic band gap for all polarizations of guided waves inside the slab including the Lamb and Love waves. We present an analysis of a different family of waveguides in phononic-crystal slabs, and illustrate the considerations that must be applied to achieve single-mode guided bands in these structures. Consequently, an unusual family of selective elastic filters composed of several single resonators that are coupled periodically through evanescent waves is obtained. The elastic energy is localized in the extended defect formed by the collective coupled resonators. The frequencies of the filters are sensitive to the geometrical parameters and to the separation distance between the indiviual resonators. Numerical simulations are performed using the finite element method and considering Zinc-Oxide slab.