Analysis of flexural wave bandgaps in periodic plate structures using differential quadrature element method

•The DQEM is developed to calculate the band structure of periodic plate structure.•The correctness and the efficiency of the proposed method are verified.•Wave modes for different dispersion curves are analyzed and the reason for the band gap is found.•The band gap width can be enlarged by changing the geometrical and physical parameters.

By employing the first order shear deformation plate theory and the Bloch–Floquet theorem, the dispersion equation of flexural wave in the periodic composite plate structure with piezoelectric patches is derived and solved by the use of the differential quadrature element method. Moreover, wave modes for the dispersion curves of the considered periodic plate are compared with those of a homogeneous plate, from which the reason of the frequency band gap is revealed. Then, a comprehensive parametric study is conducted to highlight the influences of the physical parameters and the geometrical parameters on the frequency band gaps. The results show that the method is efficient and accurate and the bandwidth can be enlarged by changing the physical and geometrical parameters. The special band gap property of periodic plate structure has many potential applications in wave/vibrations attenuation areas for mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering structures.