On the propagation of elastic waves in a multiperiodically reinforced medium

By a multiperiodically reinforced medium (multiperiodic composite) we mean a composite in which the matrix material is reinforced by two or more families of periodically spaced fibres. Moreover, at least along one direction the periods corresponding to different families are different. An example of this composite is shown in Fig. 1, where along the x(1)-axis we deal with two different periods l(1)(1), l(2)(1). The aim of the contribution is twofold. First, we propose a macroscopic ( averaged) model of amultiperiodic composite, describing the effect of period lengths on the overall dynamic behaviour of the medium, in contrast to the known homogenized models. Second, we apply this model to the analysis of elastic waves propagating across a composite reinforced by two pairs of families of parallel periodically spaced fibres with different periods along certain direction.