An elastic metamaterial with simultaneously negative mass density and bulk modulus

In this letter, an elastic metamaterial which exhibits simultaneously negative effective mass density and bulk modulus is presented with a single unit structure made of solid materials. The double-negative properties are achieved through a chiral microstructure that is capable of producing simultaneous translational and rotational resonances. The negative effective mass density and effective bulk modulus are numerically determined and confirmed by the analysis of wave propagation. The left-handed wave propagation property of this metamaterial is demonstrated by the negative refraction of acoustic waves. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3597651]