Topic description

1. Context

Space (mode) localization in periodic structures is a fundamental phenomenon in engineering science, characterized by the confinement of vibrational energy within a limited spatial region due to the exponential decay of wave amplitudes. In linear periodic systems, such localization arises when weak coupling between substructures is combined with structural mistuning, as exemplified by Anderson localization, where material imperfections lead to wave attenuation and energy trapping. In contrast, nonlinear periodic systems can exhibit strong localization even in the absence of defects. Under weak coupling conditions, these systems support Nonlinear Normal Modes (NNMs), including soliton-like excitations, also referred to as intrinsic localized modes or discrete breathers, which are highly stable and play a central role in energy transport mechanisms. Seminal contributions, such as the Fer...