Engineering disordered phononic metamaterials

Spectral band gaps in phononic metamaterials prevent the conduction of sound
at certain frequencies, a desirable property for many applications in acoustic
engineering. We present a robust algorithm harnessing disorder to construct mechanical
metamaterials with prescribed spectral properties. The practical potential and flexibility of this
method is illustrated through the targeted design of exotic material properties, including
multiple band gaps in finite systems and in periodic 2D and 3D crystals.