Multistable Mechanical Metamaterials:A Brief Review

Over the past decade,multistable mechanical metamaterials have been widely investigated because of their novel shape reconfigurability and programmable energy landscape.The ability to reversibly reshape among diverse stable states with different energy levels represents the most important feature of the multistable mechanical metamaterials.We summarize main design strategies of multistable mechanical metamaterials,including those based on self-assembly scheme,snap-through instability,structured mechanism and geometrical frustration,with a focus on the number and controllability of accessible stable states.Then we concentrate on unusual mechanical properties of these multistable mechanical metamaterials,and present their applications in a wide range of areas,including tunable electromagnetic devices,actuators,robotics,and mechanical logic gates.Finally,we discuss remaining challenges and open opportunities of designs and applications of multistable mechanical metamaterials.

Auxetic mechanical metamaterials: from soft to stiff

Auxetic mechanical metamaterials are artificially architected materials that possess negative Poisson’s ratio,demonstrating transversal contracting deformation under external vertical compression loading.Their physical properties are mainly determined by spatial topological configurations.Traditionally,classical auxetic mechanical metamaterials exhibit relatively lower mechanical stiffness,compared to classic stretching dominated architectures.Nevertheless,in recent years,several novel auxetic mechanical metamaterials with high stiffness have been designed and proposed for energy absorption,load-bearing,and thermal-mechanical coupling applications.In this paper,mechanical design methods for designing auxetic structures with soft and stiff mechanical behavior are summarized and classified.For soft auxetic mechanical metamaterials,classic methods,such as using soft basic material,hierarchical design,tensile braided design,and curved ribs,are proposed.In comparison,for stiff auxetic mechanical metamaterials,design schemes,such as hard base material,hierarchical design,composite design,and adding additional load-bearing ribs,are proposed.Multi-functional applications of soft and stiff auxetic mechanical metamaterials are then reviewed.We hope this study could provide some guidelines for designing programmed auxetics with specified mechanical stiffness and deformation abilities according to demand.

The design, manufacture and application of multistable mechanical metamaterials-a state-of-the-art review

Multistable mechanical metamaterials are a type of mechanical metamaterials with special features,such as reusability,energy storage and absorption capabilities,rapid deformation,and amplified output forces.These metamaterials are usually realized by series and/or parallel of bistable units.They can exhibit multiple stable configurations under external loads and can be switched reversely among each other,thereby realizing the reusability of mechanical metamaterials and offering broad engineering applications.This paper reviews the latest research progress in the design strategy,manufacture and application of multistable mechanical metamaterials.We divide bistable structures into three categories based on their basic element types and provide the criterion of their bistability.Various manufacturing techniques to fabricate these multistable mechanical metamaterials are introduced,including mold casting,cutting,folding and three-dimensional/4D printing.Furthermore,the prospects of multistable mechanical metamaterials for applications in soft driving,mechanical computing,energy absorption and wave controlling are discussed.Finally,this paper highlights possible challenges and opportunities for future investigations.The review aims to provide insights into the research and development of multistable mechanical metamaterials.

Architectural Design and Additive Manufacturing of Mechanical Metamaterials:A Review

Mechanical metamaterials can be defined as a class of architected materials that exhibit unprecedented mechanical properties derived from designed artificial architectures rather than their constituent materials.While macroscale and simple layouts can be realized by conventional top-down manufacturing approaches,many of the sophisticated designs at various length scales remain elusive,due to the lack of adequate manufacturing methods.Recent progress in additive manufacturing(AM)has led to the realization of a myriad of novel metamaterial concepts.AM methods capable of fabricating microscale architectures with high resolution,arbitrary complexity,and high feature fidelity have enabled the rapid development of architected meta materials and drastically reduced the design-computation and experimental-validation cycle.This paper first provides a detailed review of various topologies based on the desired mechanical properties,including stiff,strong,and auxetic(negative Poisson’s ratio)metamaterials,followed by a discussion of the AM technologies capable of fabricating these metamaterials.Finally,we discuss current challenges and recommend future directions for AM and mechanical metamaterials.

Mechanically tunable metamaterials terahertz dual-band bandstop filter

We experimentally demonstrate a mechanically tunable metamaterials terahertz（THz） dual-band bandstop filter. The unit cell of the filter contains an inner aluminum circle and an outside aluminum Ohm-ring on high resistance silicon substrate. The performance of the filter is simulated by finite-integration-time-domain（FITD） method. The sample is fabricated using a surface micromachining process and experimentally demonstrated using a THz time-domain-spectroscopy（TDS） system. The results show that, when the incident THz wave is polarized in y-axis, the filter has two intensive absorption peaks locating at 0.71 THz and 1.13 THz, respectively. The position of the high-frequency absorption peak and the amplitude of the low-frequency absorption peak can be simultaneously tuned by rotating the sample along its normal axis.The tunability of the high-frequency absorption peak is due to the shift of resonance frequency of two electrical dipoles,and that of the low-frequency absorption peak results from the effect of rotationally induced transparent. This tunable filter is very useful for switch, manipulation, and frequency selective detection of THz beam.

Mechanical Janus lattice with plug-switch orientation

In recent years,materials with asymmetric mechanical response properties(mechanical Janus materials)have been found possess numerous potential applications,i.e.shock absorption and vibration isolation.In this study,we propose a novel mechanical Janus lattice whose asymmetric mechanical response can be switched in orientation by a plug.Through finite element analysis and experimental verification,this lattice exhibits asymmetric displacement responses to symmetric forces.Furthermore,with such a plug structure inside,individual lattices can switch the orientation of asymmetry and thus achieve reprogrammable design of a mechanical structure with chained lattices.The reprogrammable asymmetry of this material will offer multiple functions in design of mechanical metamaterials.

Design and mechanical properties analysis of a cellular Waterbomb origami structure

Cellular structures are commonly used to design energy-absorbing structures,and origami structures are becominga prevalent method of cellular structure design.This paper proposes a foldable cellular structure based on theWaterbomb origami pattern.The geometrical configuration of this structure is described.Quasi-static compressiontests of the origami tube cell of this cellular structure are conducted,and load-displacement relationship curvesare obtained.Numerical simulations are carried out to analyze the effects of aspect ratio,folding angle,thicknessand number of layers of origami tubes on initial peak force and specific energy absorption(SEA).Calculationformulas for initial peak force and SEA are obtained by the multiple linear regression method.The degree ofinfluence of each parameter on the mechanical properties of the single-layer tube cell is compared.The resultsshow that the cellular structure exhibits negative stiffness and periodic load-bearing capacity,as well as foldingangle has the most significant effect on the load-bearing and energy-absorbing capacity.By adjusting the designparameters,the stiffness,load-bearing capacity and energy absorption capacity of this cellular structure can beadjusted,which shows the programmable mechanical properties of this cellular structure.The foldability andthe smooth periodic load-bearing capacity give the structure potential for application as an energy-absorbing structure.

Modeling and analysis of gradient metamaterials for broad fusion bandgaps

A gradient metamaterial with varying-stiffness local resonators is proposed to open the multiple bandgaps and further form a broad fusion bandgap.First,three local resonators with linearly increasing stiffness are periodically attached to the spring-mass chain to construct the gradient metamaterial.The dispersion relation is then derived based on Bloch's theorem to reveal the fusion bandgap theoretically.The dynamic characteristic of the finite spring-mass chain is investigated to validate the fusion of multiple bandgaps.Finally,the effects of the design parameters on multiple bandgaps are discussed.The results show that the metamaterial with a non-uniform stiffness gradient pattern is capable of opening a broad fusion bandgap and effectively attenuating the longitudinal waves within a broad frequency region.

Tailoring mechanical properties of PμSL 3D-printed structures via size effect

Projection micro stereolithography(PμSL)has emerged as a powerful three-dimensional(3D)printing technique for manufacturing polymer structures with micron-scale high resolution at high printing speed,which enables the production of customized 3D microlattices with feature sizes down to several microns.However,the mechanical properties of as-printed polymers were not systemically studied at the relevant length scales,especially when the feature sizes step into micron/sub-micron level,limiting its reliable performance prediction in micro/nanolattice and other metamaterial applications.In this work,we demonstrate that PμSL-printed microfibers could become stronger and significantly more ductile with reduced size ranging from 20μm to 60μm,showing an obvious size-dependent mechanical behavior,in which the size decreases to 20μm with a fracture strain up to~100%and fracture strength up to~100 MPa.Such size effect enables the tailoring of the material strength and stiffness of PμSL-printed microlattices over a broad range,allowing to fabricate the microlattice metamaterials with desired/tunable mechanical properties for various structural and functional applications.

Broadband microwave absorption properties of polyurethane foam absorber optimized by sandwiched cross-shaped metamaterial

The effect of a sandwiched cross-shaped metamaterial absorber(CMMA) on microwave absorption properties of the double-layered polyurethane foam absorber(PUFA) is investigated. Combining with the sandwiched CMMA, the bandwidth of -10-dB reflection loss for PUFA is broadened from 7.4 GHz to 9.1 GHz, which is attributed to the overlap of two absorption peaks originating from CMMA and PUFA, respectively. The values of the two absorption peaks located at 10.15 GHz and 14.7 GHz are -38.44 dB and -40.91 dB, respectively. Additionally, distribution of surface current,electromagnetic field and power loss density are introduced to investigate the absorption mechanism of the CMMA. The electromagnetic field distribution of the double-layered PUFA and the three-layered hybrid absorber are comparatively analyzed to ascertain the influence of CMMA. The results show that the proposed hybrid absorber can be applied to the anti-electromagnetic interference and stealth technology.

Tunable terahertz transmission behaviors and coupling mechanism in hybrid MoS_(2)metamaterials

A hybrid metamaterial with the integration of molybdenum disulfide(MoS_(2))overlayer is proposed to manipulate the terahertz(THz)wave.The simulated results indicate that the introduction of MoS_(2) layer could significantly modify the resonant responses with large resonance red-shift and bandwidth broadening due to the depolarization field effect,especially for the structure on the small permitivity substrate.Additionally,the wide-band modulator in off-resonant region and a switch effect at resonance can be achieved by varying the conductivity of MoS_(2) layer.Further theoretical calculations based on the Lorentz coupling model are consistent with the simulated results,explicating the response behaviors originate from the coupling between MoS_(2) overlayer and the metastructure.Our results could provide a possibility for active control THz modulator and switchable device based on the MoS_(2) overlayer and advance the understanding of the coupling mechanism in hybrid structures.

基于多保真度神经网络的超材料力学性能预测

超材料是具有特殊机械性能的工程结构材料,可以通过设计单胞结构,定制超材料的力学性能。提出一种基于多保真度神经网络的超材料力学性能预测方法,采用拉丁超立方采样与物理试验、有限元分析等方法,构建包含两个保真度数据集的初始数据库。基于低保真度数据集,训练获得低保真度神经网络。冻结低保真度神经网络的通用特征层,对特定特征层基于高保真度数据集进行重训练,获得多保真度神经网络。将待预测结构件作为多保真度神经网络的输入,多保真度神经网络的输出即为预测得到的超材料力学性能。研究表明,所提出的方法预测精度与效率显著优于传统方法,为超材料的优化设计奠定了基础。

关于负泊松比的材料力学课程教学拓展与探索

泊松比是材料力学课程教学中的重要力学概念与材料弹性常数之一。本文对现有材料力学课程中泊松比教学内容进行了拓展和补充,引入了负泊松比效应概念,并介绍了常见的负泊松比材料及其力学性能优势。重点基于内凹蜂窝超材料,详细介绍了实现负泊松比效应的超材料力学理论分析及其教学实践;并借鉴虚拟仿真实验概念,应用有限元数值分析方法,对超材料的负泊松比效应进行仿真分析与讨论,直观地展示了超材料的力学变形模式及其负泊松比效应。从而以此为切入点,加深学生对弯曲内力、挠度、应变和泊松比等重点知识的理解与实践运用。

Mechanical design and analysis of bio-inspired reentrant negative Poisson’s ratio metamaterials with rigid-flexible distinction

Aiming at achieving tunable reentrant structures with rigidity and uniformity,respectively,the C-shaped and S-shaped reentrant metamaterials were proposed by the bionic design of animal structures.Utilizing beam theory and energy methodology,the analytical expressions of the equivalent elastic modulus of the metamaterials were derived.Differences in deformation modes,mechanical properties,and energy absorption capacities were characterized by using experiments and the finite element analysis method.The effects of ligament angle and thickness on the mechanical characteristics of two novel metamaterials were investigated by using a parametric analysis.The results show that the stiffness,deformation mode,stress-strain curve,and energy absorption effects of three metamaterials are significantly different.This design philosophy can be extended from 2D to 3D and is applicable at multiple dimensions.

行星轮系力学超材料及其连续可调力学性能

针对高可靠性复杂工况需求的连续可调力学特性,分别研究基于双层行星轮系和拉式行星轮系的连续刚度可调及振动传递率可调的力学超材料;应用空间梁单元建立弯曲梁的变径向载荷下刚度连续可调理论力学模型及模态分析模型,研究基于行星轮系的超材料刚度连续可调理论及模态振型特点,为基于行星轮系连续刚度可调及振动传递率可调的力学超材料提供理论支撑;建立基于双层行星轮系和拉式行星轮系单胞及2×2胞的力学超材料有限元模型,分别计算分析压缩弹性模量、剪切模量和振动传递率与控制变量的作用关系。研究结果表明:基于双层行星轮系和拉式行星轮系力学超材料的压缩弹性模量和剪切模量分别具有9~15倍和1~2.5倍连续可调范围,其振动传递率亦可通过控制变量进行调控;理论计算和仿真分析结果一致性较好。

双叉戟状空间自锁吸能系统设计及吸能性能研究

自锁吸能系统可无需外加约束而避免元件在冲击荷载下的横向飞溅,具有广阔的应用前景。然而,已有自锁吸能系统大都只在特定方向具有自锁稳定性,构型复杂且造价昂贵,或截面形状特殊,不便拆装,制约了应用和推广。为此,该文提出了一种新型的多向自锁能量吸收系统,由具有双叉戟状横截面的薄壁管组成,拆装方式灵活便捷。当系统受冲击时,管件的管槽限制了相邻主体管的位移,使管件系统在空间多个方向的冲击载荷下,均可实现自锁,并且充分变形,稳定吸能。通过有限元分析,系统考察了双叉戟单管的几何参数效应以及阵列轮廓尺寸对系统吸能特性的影响。相较于已有的自锁系统,该文发展的双叉戟自锁吸能系统具有更优异的吸能特性。

应用于低速冲击的新型力学超材料

目的针对低速碰撞场景下的吸能缓冲需求,设计一种具有准零刚度特性的新型力学超材料。方法首先对力学超材料的几何结构进行参数化建模,超材料主要组成包括薄壁结构与格栅结构。薄壁结构为正弦构型的曲梁,格栅结构由圆杆组成,将薄壁曲梁连接成整体。为了缩短不同应用场景下缓冲结构的设计周期,提出了一种结构力学响应的计算方法。首先建立基于欧拉-伯努利梁原理的薄壁结构运动微分方程,随后提出了一种基于四阶龙格库塔法以及打靶法的数值求解方法,最后基于叠加原理,提出了缓冲结构的力学响应预测方法并进行了相应的线性补偿。结果提出的数值算法可以准确地计算大柔度薄壁结构的力学响应,从而减少设计迭代的次数,大幅缩短设计周期。结论准静态试验结果表明,提出的超材料构型具有准零刚度的特点,并且压缩率超过70%。落锤冲击场景下缓冲结构无明显的初始峰值,响应载荷得到抑制。这说明这种超材料在缓冲领域具有很大的应用潜力,尤其适用于体积受限场景下的冲击防护。

改变本征形变特性:机械超材料启发的液晶弹性体研究进展

液晶弹性体是一类集成了液晶相的各向异性和聚合物基质的力学特性的材料,具有可操控的自主形变能力,在柔性电子、光学器件及生物医疗技术等诸多领域有广阔的应用前景。液晶弹性体的高级功能主要来源于其制备过程的处理方法和几何结构的构筑方式。不同的取向策略和结构的组合能够赋予材料复杂的形变模式和功能特性。近年的研究发现,将机械超材料与液晶弹性体结合能够实现常规材料设计难以实现的功能和特性,实现如双轴驱动、加热膨胀、多维运动等功能,应用在生物医疗、无电子传感、振动控制等领域。本文综述了利用超材料结构设计思路对液晶弹性体的取向及几何结构进行同步构筑的设计方法及其应用,介绍了3D打印技术在构建人造有序结构方面的应用及对材料性能的影响。

Achieving ultra-large tensile strain in nanoscale Si mechanical metamaterials

Compared with the inherent brittleness of bulk silicon(Si)at ambient temperature,the nanosized Si materials with very high strength,plasticity,and anelasticity due to size effect,are all well-documented.However,the ultimate stretchability of Si nanostructure has not yet been demonstrated due to the difficulties in experimental design.Herein,directly performing in-situ tensile tests in a scanning electron microscope after developing a protocol for sample transfer,shaping and straining,we report the customized nanosized Si mechanical metamaterial which overcomes brittle limitations and achieves an ultra-large tensile strain of up to 95%using the maskless focused ion beam(FIB)technology.The unprecedented characteristic is achieved synergistically through FIB-induced size-softening effect and engineering modification of mechanical metamaterials,revealed through analyses of finite element analysis,atomic-scale transmission electron microscope characterization and molecular dynamics simulations.This work is not only instructive for tailoring the strength and deformation behavior of nanosized Si mechanical metamaterials or other bulk materials,but also of practical relevance to the application of Si nanomaterials in nanoelectromechanical system and nanoscale strain engineering.

Design,fabrication,and characterization of hierarchical mechanical metamaterials

Natural mechanical materials,such as bamboo and bone,often exhibit superior specific mechanical properties due to their hierarchical porous architectures.Using the principle of hierarchy as inspiration can facilitate the development of hierarchical mechanical metamaterials(HMMs)across multiple length scales via 3D printing.In this work,we propose self-similar HMMs that combine octet-truss(OCT)architecture as the first and second orders,with cubic architecture as the third or more orders.These HMMs were fabricated using stereolithography 3D printing,with the length sizes ranging from approximately 200µm to the centimeter scale.The compressive stress–strain behaviors of HMMs exhibit a zigzag characteristic,and the toughness and energy absorption can be significantly enhanced by the hierarchical architecture.The compressive moduli are comparable to that of natural materials,and the strengths are superior to that of most polymer/metal foams,alumina hollow/carbon lattices,and other natural materials.Furthermore,the flexural stress–strain curves exhibit a nonlinear behavior,which can be attributed to the hierarchical architecture and local damage propagation.The relatively high mechanical properties can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the stretch-dominated OCT architecture and the bending-dominated cube architecture.Lastly,an ultralight HMM-integrated unmanned aerial vehicle(HMM-UAV)was successfully designed and printed.The HMM-UAV is~85%lighter than its bulk counterpart,remarkably extending the flight duration time(~53%).This work not only provides an effective design strategy for HMMs but also further expands the application benchmark of HMMs.