Plane Wave Attenuation in Periodic Pile Barriers with Sliding Interfaces

This study investigates the impact of a sliding interface, characterized by zero tangential traction, on the dynamics of Bragg scattering (BSPBs) and locally resonant periodic pile barriers (LRPBs). Using a massless spring model to represent the sliding interface, our numerical results show that the complete attenuation zone in both types of barriers either closes or shifts to higher frequencies. For plane shear waves, the sliding interface leads the shear wave attenuation zone (SWAZ) in BSPBs to move toward lower frequencies and transition coupled wave dispersion curves to pure shear wave dispersion curves. In contrast, in LRPBs, the SWAZ becomes significantly narrower. These findings are further confirmed by transmission simulations and a dynamic effective medium approach. To approximate real engineering conditions, we use a Monte Carlo simulation with a partially random sliding interface up to a 20% error margin, finding that wave attenuation in both barrier types is weakened, with LRPBs exhibiting significant oscillations and greater sensitivity. This work enhances the understanding of wave attenuation in periodic pile barriers with sliding interfaces and facilitates their design and implementation in practical applications.