Programming nonreciprocity and reversibility in multistable mechanical metamaterials

Abstract

Nonreciprocity can be passively achieved by harnessing material nonlinearities. In particular, networks of nonlinear bistable elements with asymmetric energy landscapes have recently been shown to support unidirectional transition waves. However, in these systems energy can be transferred only when the elements switch from the higher to the lower energy well, allowing for a one-time signal transmission. Here, we show that in a mechanical metamaterial comprising a 1D array of bistable arches nonreciprocity and reversability can be independently programmed and are not mutually exclusive. By connecting shallow arches with symmetric energy wells and decreasing energy barriers, we design a reversible mechanical diode that can sustain multiple signal transmissions. Further, by alternating arches with symmetric and asymmetric energy landscapes we realize a nonreciprocal chain that enables propagation of different transition waves in opposite directions.

References in corpus (3)

• Observation of phononic helical edge states in a mechanical 'topological insulator'
• Noiseless nonreciprocity in a parametric active device
• Experimental Observation of Nonreciprocal Waves in a Resonant Metamaterial Beam

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Non-reciprocal topological solitons in active metamaterials
• Nonreciprocal Synchronization of Active Quantum Spins
• Discriminative transition sequences of origami metamaterials for mechano-logic
• Symmetry-driven Phononic Metamaterials
• Harmonically Induced Shape Morphing of Bistable Buckled Beam with Static Bias