We present a theoretical study on the tunability of phononic band gaps in two-dimensional phononic crystals consisting of various anisotropic cylinders in an isotropic host. A two-dimensional plane-wave expansion method was used to analyze the band diagrams of the phononic crystals; the anisotropic materials used in this work include cubic, hexagonal, trigonal, and tetragonal crystal systems. By reorienting the anisotropic cylinders, we show that phononic band gaps for bulk acoustic waves propagating in the phononic crystal can be opened, modulated, and closed. The methodology presented here enables enhanced control over acoustic metamaterials which have applications in ultrasonic imaging, acoustic therapy, and nondestructive evaluation.

• Received 13 January 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.174303