First Full-Scale Field Experiments: Topologically Amplified Seismic Surface Waves via Interface States in a 1D Metamaterial

Topological insulators with localized edge or interface states have been extensively studied, particularly in phononic crystals and related fields; however, their application in seismic metamaterials remains largely unexplored. To address this gap, we designed a topological seismic metamaterial, where the topological interface is formed by joining the ends of two distinct one-dimensional periodic lattices. The first full-scale field experiment confirms the existence of topological interface states, which exhibit pronounced localization characteristics and induce a resonant amplification effect of 7.2 dB on the total energy of seismic surface waves. This study provides the first experimental validation for the implementation of topological principles in the design of seismic metamaterials, enabling novel approaches to high-sensitivity seismic detection and efficient energy localization for wave control.