The attenuation of stress waves due to the local resonance is numerically studied using the finite element method (FEM) in this work. The natural frequency of a representative composite unit embedded with coated particles is analyzed and the major factors that influence the natural frequency are examined. Local resonance is inspired when the frequency of the incident stress wave is close to the natural frequency of the particles in the composite. Significant reduction in the amplitude of the stress is obtained when the local resonance occurs, because a large amount of the incident energy is converted to the kinetic energy of the particles, which is rapidly dissipated through the strong oscillations of those particles. It is also observed that the attenuation for the incident stress waves with a range of frequencies can be achieved by using the particles with various local natural frequencies in a composite.
Keywords: attenuation; local resonance; particulate composite; stress wave.