Invited Speaker

Abstract: Topological phases of matter (e.g. topological insulators) based on principles of topology are of great theoretical and practical values in various physical settings spanning electronics, optics, acoustics, thermodynamics and mechanics. This lecture will present the theory of topological properties of mechanical continuous beams and continuum lattice grid structures that have been recently revealed. The theory gives the existence condition of the topological states and higher-order topological states within the whole frequency spectra of continuous beams, bridge-like frames, square frames and kagome frame structures. Clear criteria for topological phase transitions, which occur many times in such continuum lattice grid structures, are established. The exact frequencies of the topological corner states, edge states, and bulk states are solved analytically. The approach is based on a unified framework, which can be readily applied to similar continuum lattice grid structures with more complex configurations.

Biography: Jianxiang Wang is currently Changjiang Scholar Professor of Mechanics, and Chief Professor of Zhou Peiyuan Honors Program of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ZPY-TAM), in College of Engineering of Peking University. He received his PhD from The University of Sydney in 1995. He joined Peking University in 1998, after doing post-doctoral research in Imperial College in 1996 and Aalborg University in 1997. Jianxiang Wang’s research focuses on mechanics of composite materials. He once served as secretary-general of the 23rd International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ICTAM2012), and member of Congress Committee of the IUTAM.