Despite recent numerical simulations and limited laboratory studies highlighting the potential of semi-embedded seismic metamaterials (SEM) in attenuating Rayleigh waves, their real-world effectiveness remains unverified, particularly for Love waves. Love waves pose significant destructive risks to slender structures but have rarely been the focus of research. To address this gap, we present the first full-scale 2D field experiment on an SEM composed of an array of semi-embedded rubber column resonators. The experimental results reveal a global bandgap spanning 25–37 Hz and a localized bandgap at 37–42 Hz. At the central frequency of the global bandgap (f₀ = 31 Hz), the attenuation reaches −9.3 dB for Love waves and −5.3 dB for Rayleigh waves, with the mitigation of Love waves being notably pronounced. Furthermore, our theoretical and experimental analyses provide novel mechanistic insights: the primary energy dissipation in flexible rubber resonators arises from the resonance of their exposed above-ground sections, while the underground buried parts introduce damping that moderately reduces the efficiency of surface wave attenuation. This pioneering full-scale on-site validation bridges the critical gap between simulation-based predictions and practical seismic protection systems, providing valuable reference for the engineering application of SEM, especially for mitigating destructive waves.

Seismic metamaterials have gained significant attention for their ability to reduce seismic wave energy. However, numerical simulations have dominated the majority of research on seismic metamaterials, with relatively few field experiments validating their effectiveness. Additionally, the focus has primarily been on attenuating Rayleigh waves, with less attention given to Love waves. In this study, we first designed a seismic metamaterial featuring a periodic and symmetric array of square holes using numerical simulations as our research platform. We then explored its attenuation effects on Rayleigh waves, particularly Love waves, through field experiments. The results revealed not only differences in energy attenuation between these wave types but, more importantly, uncovered a phenomenon that we termed Bandgap-Induced Attenuation Mode Inversion within the ultra-broadband gap that was generated by the seismic metamaterials, where Love waves exhibited greater attenuation than Rayleigh waves below 50 Hz, while Rayleigh waves exhibited greater attenuation above 50 Hz. These findings highlight the necessity of considering both wave types when designing cost-effective seismic metamaterials, providing valuable insights for the development and application of metamaterials that can effectively mitigate the energy of different seismic wave modes.

Locally resonant seismic metasurfaces can attenuate surface waves at sub-wavelength scales; however, fixed configurations are unable to adapt to varying site-specific frequency spectra. This paper proposes a mass-tunable spring-mass metasurface that achieves in-situ bandgap reconfiguration by altering the resonator mass. Combining three-dimensional Bloch simulations with full-scale sand-site experiments (7 × 6 array), the bandgap evolution within the 2–6 kg mass range is systematically investigated. Simulations demonstrate that increasing mass shifts all bandgaps toward lower frequencies, and when the mass reaches ≥3 kg, the decoupling of higher-order modes gives rise to a fourth bandgap, BG4. Experiments confirm this trend and further reveal the modal selectivity of bandgaps: BG2 and BG3 are effective for both Love and Rayleigh waves, whereas BG4 can only be excited by Rayleigh waves. Due to finite periodicity and damping effects, the low-frequency BG1 is difficult to observe experimentally. Overall, the resonator mass serves as a reversible and low-cost tuning degree of freedom, providing an engineering-feasible pathway for adaptive metasurface design.

Seismic metamaterials (SMs) have emerged as a novel wave-control strategy for earthquake-resistant engineering, offering the potential to manipulate seismic waves via artificially designed periodic/resonant structures. Field and laboratory experiments are critical to bridge theoretical predictions and engineering practice, yet a systematic synthesis focusing on experimental progress remains lacking. This review systematically classifies SMs into buried (BSMs), above-surface (ASMs), and partially embedded (PESMs) configurations, summarizing their structural designs, attenuation mechanisms, experimental performance, and key limitations. Results show that SMs can achieve >70% attenuation in the 0–50 Hz seismic band, with buried periodic barriers reaching 99.7% energy blocking and forest-like ASMs achieving 93–99% Rayleigh wave reduction. PESMs exhibit superior adaptability to shallow soils, with bandgaps concentrated in 1.5–14.5 Hz (building-sensitive range). Current experiments have advanced from single mechanisms to multi-mechanism synergy and from specialized materials to conventional concrete/steel. However, critical gaps remain: scaling-induced deviations, poor complex-geology adaptability, lack of long-term durability, and insufficient multi-waveform control. Finally, we propose a 3–10-year engineering roadmap and outline future directions: multi-waveform regulation, soil–metamaterial dynamic matching, durability design, and full-scale intelligent upgrades. This work aims to provide a critical experimental reference for the practical deployment of SMs.

Seismic metamaterials (SMs) have gained significant attention for their ability to reduce seismic wave energy. However, the majority of research on SMs has been dominated by numerical simulations, with relatively few field experiments validating their effectiveness. Additionally, the focus has been primarily on attenuating Rayleigh waves, with less attention given to Love waves. In this study, We first designed a seismic metamaterial featuring a periodic and symmetric array of square holes using numerical simulations as our research platform. We then explored its attenuation effects on Rayleigh waves, particularly Love waves, through field experiments. The results revealed not only differences in energy attenuation between these wave types but, more importantly, uncovered a phenomenon we termed Bandgap-Induced Attenuation Mode Inversion within the ultra-broadband gap generated by SMs, where Love waves exhibited greater attenuation than Rayleigh waves below 50 Hz, while Rayleigh waves exhibited greater attenuation above 50 Hz. These findings highlight the necessity of considering both wave types when designing cost-effective seismic metamaterials, providing valuable insights for the development and application of metamaterials that can effectively mitigate the energy of different seismic wave modes.