Nonlinear Topological Mechanics in Elliptically Geared Isostatic Metamaterials

Abstract

Despite the extensive studies of topological systems, the experimental characterizations of strongly nonlinear topological phases have been lagging. To address this shortcoming, we design and build elliptically geared isostatic metamaterials. Their nonlinear topological transitions can be realized by collective soliton motions, which stem from the transition of nonlinear Berry phase. Endowed by the intrinsic nonlinear topological mechanics, surface polar elasticity and dislocation-bound zero modes can be created or annihilated as the topological polarization reverses orientation. Our approach integrates topological physics with strongly nonlinear mechanics and promises multi-phase structures at the micro and macro scales.

5+19 pages, 4+20 figures

References in corpus (7)

• Observation of phononic helical edge states in a mechanical 'topological insulator'
• Topological modes bound to dislocations in mechanical metamaterials
• Nonlinear conduction via solitons in a topological mechanical insulator
• Nonlinear control of PT-symmetry and non-Hermitian topological states
• Nonlinearity induced topological physics in momentum space and real space
• Kink-antikink asymmetry and impurity interactions in topological mechanical chains
• Nonlinear Dirac Cones

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Fully-Polarized Topological Isostatic Metamaterials in Three Dimensions