Two-dimensional elastic bandgap crystal to attenuate surface waves

Experiments on the attenuation of Rayleigh waves in a marble quarry by a periodic array of cylindrical holes, in a honeycomb and in a triangular distribution, are reported. The results are explained in terms of elastic wave crystals (EWC's), and compared to theoretical calculations performed with scalar waves. The scaling property of the underlying theory has led us to explore the possible application of the results obtained to the attenuation of surface waves in seismic movements.