A magnetically induced multistable metamaterial realizing programmable elastic waveguides

What is it about?

In this study, we introduce an innovative methodology leveraging magnetically responsive multistable metamaterials to control the propagation of elastic waves. Our approach features a unique design that magnetically couples multiple layers within the metamaterial, deliberately separating the functions of multistability and wave guidance into distinct layers of the metastructure. This design addresses the inherent limitations found in traditional multistable elastic metamaterials, where achieving both effective state-switching and energy-lossless wave propagation simultaneously is challenging as materials that allow for easy switching are too soft and absorb too much energy. Through both simulations and experimental validation, we demonstrate the capability of our proposed metamaterials in realizing programmable waveguides, directing wave energy along any desired paths by effectively on-demand altering the multistable metamaterial's internal configurations.

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Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash

Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our research offers an innovative approach to practically realize adaptive and broadband elastic wave manipulation in multistable metamaterials, which will advance various wave-based engineering applications, such as structural health monitoring and energy harvesting. Moreover, with the proposed multistable metamaterial, we can abstract the multistable states of each unit as discrete metamaterial bits, leading to the emerging concept of digital mechanical metamaterials with stable mechanical memory. This will facilitate reconfigurable phononic information processing and communication systems with high-density information storage and robust communication via elastic wave transmission, towards new paradigms for next-gen intelligent and informative metamaterial systems.

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