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Title: Synthetically non-Hermitian nonlinear wave-like behavior in a topological mechanical metamaterial

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [4];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
  2. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
  3. Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
  4. Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115

Topological mechanical metamaterials have enabled new ways to control stress and deformation propagation. Exemplified by Maxwell lattices, they have been studied extensively using a linearized formalism. Herein, we study a two-dimensional topological Maxwell lattice by exploring its large deformation quasi-static response using geometric numerical simulations and experiments. We observe spatial nonlinear wave-like phenomena such as harmonic generation, localized domain switching, amplification-enhanced frequency conversion, and solitary waves. We further map our linearized, homogenized system to a non-Hermitian, nonreciprocal, one-dimensional wave equation, revealing an equivalence between the deformation fields of two-dimensional topological Maxwell lattices and nonlinear dynamical phenomena in one-dimensional active systems. Our study opens a regime for topological mechanical metamaterials and expands their application potential in areas including adaptive and smart materials and mechanical logic, wherein concepts from nonlinear dynamics may be used to create intricate, tailored spatial deformation and stress fields greatly transcending conventional elasticity.

Research Organization:
Krell Institute, Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003960
OSTI ID:
1971269
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2417936
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Vol. 120 Journal Issue: 18; ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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