Elastic weyl points and surface arc states in three-dimensional structures

The study of Weyl points in electronic systems has inspired much recent research in classical systems such as photonic and acoustic lattices. Here we show how Weyl physics can also inspire the design of novel elastic structures. We construct a single-phase three-dimensional structure, an analog of the AA-stacked honeycomb lattice, and predict the existence of Weyl points with opposite topological charges (±1), elastic Fermi arcs, and the associated gapless topologically protected surface states. We apply full-scale numerical simulations on the elastic three-dimensional structure and present a clear visualization of topological surface states that are directional and robust. Such designed lattices can pave the way for novel vibration control and energy harvesting on structures that are ubiquitous in many engineering applications.