Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xianye Li, Liang Xu, Pei Lin, Xiaodan Yang, Huamei Wang, Huaifang Qin, Zhong Lin Wang
Summary: Clusters of tightly coupled machinery units can exhibit collective behavior and behave like metamaterials to address environmental disturbances. This is particularly important for harnessing water wave energy, a promising clean energy source with huge reserves but a formidable challenge for traditional generators. In this study, a novel three-dimensional chiral network of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is designed to effectively harvest water wave energy. The network, unlike bulky and rigid machines, features a distributed architecture with chiral connections between unbalanced units, providing flexibility, hyper-elasticity, and wave absorption behavior similar to mechanical chiral metamaterials. The network can be configured to harvest wave energy in all directions at different scales and depths. An integrated energy harvesting system, combined with a power management circuit, enhances the stored energy by approximately 319 times. This study demonstrates the great potential of the novel 3D chiral network for blue energy harvesting and self-powered systems based on TENGs, which can adapt better to harsh ocean environments with flexible and distributed characteristics. It also presents a paradigm shift from mechanical metamaterial designs to energy harvesting networks, inspiring innovative energy harvesting systems and strongly coupled machinery systems based on metamaterials.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Marius A. Wagner, Fabian Schwarz, Nick Huber, Lena Geistlich, Henning Galinski, Ralph Spolenak
Summary: Mechanical metamaterials with complex unit cell architectures can achieve extraordinary mechanical properties. Deformation-induced transitions in nodal topology by internal self-contact can generate highly non-linear stiffening effects.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad J. Mirzaali, Aref Ghorbani, Kenichi Nakatani, Mahdiyeh Nouri-Goushki, Nazli Tumer, Sebastien J. P. Callens, Shahram Janbaz, Angelo Accardo, Jose Bico, Mehdi Habibi, Amir A. Zadpoor
Summary: This study discusses the use of simple bending of metal plates to achieve various intrinsic curvatures, showing that different unit cell structures can result in plates with different properties. Experimental and numerical results demonstrate that bending along the longitudinal direction of the metal plate induces curvature along the transverse direction, providing a general route for designing advanced functional devices with intrinsically curved geometries.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lizi Cheng, Tao Tang, Haokun Yang, Fengqian Hao, Ge Wu, Fucong Lyu, Yu Bu, Yilu Zhao, Yan Zhao, Guo Liu, Xuan Cheng, Jian Lu
Summary: By integrating hierarchy and size effects, microarchitected metamaterials fabricated with a metallic or ceramic coating can achieve both high strength and lightweight properties. Inspired by the Pantheon dome in Rome, microarchitected domes with a gradient helix design exhibit graceful failure during compression, increasing compressive strength significantly. The combination of architectural and material design offers a promising method of suppressing brittle failure and enhancing functionality in metamaterials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiqiang Meng, Hujie Yan, Mingchao Liu, Wenkai Qin, Guy M. Genin, Chang Qing Chen
Summary: Information processing using material's own properties has gained increasing interest. A mechanical metamaterial system is demonstrated for material-based encoding and storage of data through programmed reconfigurations of the metamaterial's structured building blocks.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
C. Haug, D. Molodov, P. Gumbsch, C. Greiner
Summary: Tribological loading induces microstructural changes in metals through dislocation-mediated plastic deformation. Crystal lattice rotations play an important role in friction and wear at the sliding interface, and are influenced by sliding direction and grain orientation.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiaojiao You, Jian Yang, Chengyi Dan, Han Chen, Yuchi Cui, Haowei Wang, Mingliang Wang, Zhe Chen
Summary: The mechanism of deformation banding in cold rolling Al-Mg alloy was investigated with a focus on local lattice rotation and related dislocation slip. It was found that the formation of deformation bands is orientation dependent, with a strong presence in grains close to certain crystallographic directions. The activation of secondary slips and their associated lattice rotation contribute to the formation of deformation bands.
MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION
(2022)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Yubo Zhang, Zheng Qian, Juncheng Zhuang, Siping Fan, Huaxian Wei, Nan Yang
Summary: Mechanical computation is superior to electrical computation in extreme conditions. However, constructing logic gates with mechanical metamaterials can be complex and challenging for more complex computations. To address these issues, a general method is proposed to integrate mechanical metamaterials with soft convex and concave modules, rigid frames, and conductive materials, enabling the realization of logic gates, addition, and multiplication. This approach is simple, versatile, and reusable, and may improve the capabilities of soft robots, robotic materials, and microelectromechanical systems.
ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jay Sim, Shuai Wu, Jize Dai, Ruike Renee Zhao
Summary: This paper presents a bilayer magneto-mechanical metamaterial that can achieve area-preserving shape reconfigurations and tunable area density. The metamaterial consists of two layers of magnetic soft materials with different magnetization distributions, allowing it to reconfigure into multiple modes and significantly change its area density without altering its overall dimensions. The area-preserving multimodal shape reconfigurations are further utilized for active acoustic wave regulation and tunability of bandgaps and wave propagations.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jason Christopher Jolly, Binjie Jin, Lishuai Jin, YoungJoo Lee, Tao Xie, Stefano Gonella, Kai Sun, Xiaoming Mao, Shu Yang
Summary: This study introduces a transformable mechanical metamaterial in the form of a generalized kagome lattice made from a shape memory polymer. It can explore topologically distinct phases of the non-trivial phase space reversibly via a kinematic strategy. The material has stable topologically-protected, polarized mechanical edge stiffness and can effectively shield the topological response from its own kinematic stress history.
Article
Mechanics
Russell Galea, Krzysztof K. Dudek, Pierre-Sandre Farrugia, Louis Zammit Mangion, Joseph N. Grima, Ruben Gatt
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of a novel accordion-like magneto-mechanical metamaterial to change dimensions controllably under an external magnetic field, and return to its initial shape. It can also serve as a building block for larger 3D systems, transitioning its mechanical properties from positive to negative Poisson's ratio based on the external magnetic field.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Nan Yang, Juncheng Zhuang, Shichuan Wei, Ying Yu
Summary: Structures with multiple deformation paths provide a promising platform for robotics and reprogrammable materials. This paper proposes a new ring-like kirigami structure that exhibits multiple discrete deformation patterns and a continuous shearing deformation pattern. It also demonstrates the capability of constructing various 2D and 3D cellular structures.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yanchu Zhang, Kunhao Yu, Kyung Hoon Lee, Ketian Li, Haixu Du, Qiming Wang
Summary: Recent advances in soft matter and advanced manufacturing have made it possible to design and fabricate elastomer lattices for a variety of engineering applications. This study proposes a theoretical model to explain the mechanics of elastomer lattices by constructing a potential energy function and introducing principal stretches. The proposed models agree well with finite element simulations and experiments, demonstrating their generality and robustness for various material constitutive models, volume fractions, lattice architectures, and deformation modes.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS OF SOLIDS
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Wenheng Han, Wei Gao, Xingzhe Wang
Summary: Smart mechanical metamaterials based on magnetoactive soft materials were designed and prepared, showing super deformation characteristics and potential applications in various fields through the special structure design. The multi-modal shape changes in a biomimetic blood vessel were demonstrated as an example of its effectiveness, indicating promising applications in soft robots, healthcare, and flexible electronics.
SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Peng Wang, Fan Yang, Bailin Zheng, Pengfei Li, Ruicheng Wang, Yan Li, Hualin Fan, Xiaoyan Li
Summary: It is a challenge to compromise between mechanical property indicators in the design of lightweight lattice materials. A hierarchical lattice metamaterial is proposed to overcome this challenge, inspired by the glass sponge skeletal system. This lattice metamaterial possesses high strength, energy absorption, toughness, and controllable deformation patterns, combining bionic features of reinforcement and modification. The proposed lattice demonstrates superior damage tolerance compared to existing lattice metamaterials and outperforms the Octet lattice in terms of specific strength, energy absorption, and crushing force efficiency.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Luke Mizzi, Daphne Attard, Kenneth E. Evans, Ruben Gatt, Joseph N. Grima
Summary: This research investigates a class of highly anisotropic mechanical metamaterials designed by introducing diamond and elliptically shaped perforations, which exhibit auxetic behavior. Through finite element simulations, it is demonstrated that these highly tuneable systems can achieve a wide range of Poisson's ratios by altering geometric parameters and perforation orientations. The anomalous properties of these mechanical metamaterials are retained over significant tensile strain ranges, showcasing their vast potential applicability and functionality.
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
A. Sorrentino, D. Castagnetti, L. Mizzi, A. Spaggiari
Summary: Rotating squares auxetic metamaterials with a negative Poisson's ratio can be improved by using an innovative variable arcs fillet solution. Through FE modeling, it was determined that a combined elliptical and circular arc fillet configuration can achieve an overall 3% elastic strain with a PR of approximately -1. Experimental results from a tensile test on a 3D printed prototype of the optimal solution demonstrated excellent agreement with FE predictions, showing a PR of ca. -1 up to a 3% overall strain.
SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Luke Mizzi, Andrea Spaggiari
Summary: This study introduces a new class of chiral metamaterials based on uniform Euclidean tessellations, with most of them possessing negative Poisson's ratio. The relationship between geometric parameters and mechanical properties was investigated, showing the transformative ability of chirality in complex geometries.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
James N. Grima-Cornish, Daphne Attard, Joseph N. Grima, Kenneth E. Evans
Summary: The article explores how ancient symmetrical esthetic artifacts have been transformed into functional auxetics through mechanisms in the field of mechanical metamaterials and architected materials. It focuses on the important role and various implementations of rotating rigid units at different scales of structure.
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI-RAPID RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
K. K. Dudek, J. A. Iglesias Martinez, G. Ulliac, M. Kadic
Summary: In this paper, a novel hierarchical mechanical metamaterial is proposed that can exhibit a wide range of unusual auxetic behavior. The ability to control this behavior through geometric design parameters is demonstrated using experiments and computer simulations. The proposed structure is capable of shape morphing, making it suitable for various applications, including flexible electronics.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Russell Galea, Krzysztof K. Dudek, Pierre-Sandre Farrugia, Louis Zammit Mangion, Joseph N. Grima, Ruben Gatt
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of a novel accordion-like magneto-mechanical metamaterial to change dimensions controllably under an external magnetic field, and return to its initial shape. It can also serve as a building block for larger 3D systems, transitioning its mechanical properties from positive to negative Poisson's ratio based on the external magnetic field.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Pierre-Sandre Farrugia, Ruben Gatt, Luke Mizzi, Joseph N. Grima
Summary: The deformation behavior of intersecting ligaments forming variants of the square and rectangular grids under mechanical compression was investigated. It was shown that these systems can exhibit a negative incremental Poisson's ratio at relatively large axial compressive strains. The extent of auxeticity depends on the relative offset of successive ligaments, the relative lengths of the ligaments as well as on their thickness. Two distinct modes of deformation were observed, one resembling that of the reentrant hexagonal honeycomb and the other that of the meta-tetrachiral system.
MECHANICS OF ADVANCED MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Luke Mizzi, Andrea Spaggiari
Summary: This study investigates the impact of introducing geometric chiral characteristics on the mechanical properties of Euclidean polygonal tessellations with octahedral or dodecahedral elements. The research discovers three novel auxetic metamaterials with potentially large negative Poisson's ratios and high in-plane isotropy. It further demonstrates the control of auxeticity through tuning the geometric parameters. This work highlights the potential of Euclidean polygonal tessellations in designing innovative auxetic metamaterials and provides insights into the deformation mechanisms and geometric conditions that lead to this anomalous property.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOLIDS AND STRUCTURES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Andrea Sorrentino, Davide Castagnetti, Luke Mizzi, Andrea Spaggiari
Summary: This work investigates the mechanical response of bio-inspired titanium mechanical metamaterials with negative Poisson's ratio evolved from rotating squares unit. The proposed solution consists of a combined auxetic rotating/chiral architecture with enhanced mechanical and topological properties which exhibits a 3% of global elastic strain of the structure and a Poisson's ratio equal to -0.94. The work confirms the great potential of biologically inspired auxetic metamaterials, which can be designed to obtain tailored mechanical properties while improving the elastic strains capabilities of the system.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Krzysztof K. Dudek, Julio A. Iglesias Martinez, Muamer Kadic
Summary: A novel hierarchical mechanical metamaterial composed of re-entrant truss-lattice elements is proposed. It exhibits versatile extent of auxetic behavior depending on the thickness of its hinges. By controlling the deformation pattern, the system can exhibit significantly different bandgap formation, making it useful in the design of vibration dampers or sensors. The proposed metamaterial has potential applications in protective and biomedical devices.
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI B-BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lianchao Wang, Gwenn Ulliac, Bing Wang, Julio A. Iglesias Martinez, Krzysztof K. Dudek, Vincent Laude, Muamer Kadic
Summary: In this study, a novel 3D mechanical metamaterial is designed to address the limitation of phase transition on mechanical parameters. The material can undergo a phase transition from positive to negative Poisson's ratio under compression without significant degradation of Young's modulus.
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Russell Galea, Pierre-Sandre Farrugia, Krzysztof K. Dudek, Louis Zammit Mangion, Joseph N. Grima, Ruben Gatt
Summary: This study investigates an accordion-like system with embedded magnetic inclusion and demonstrates that its deformation depends on the magnetic moment and length of the embedded magnets. The stacking of the accordion-like system forms hexagonal honeycombs with varying Poisson's ratio, which can be altered by the positioning and properties of the magnetic inclusion and magnetic field. The dimensions of these structures can be controlled through external magnetic fields, allowing for high turnability and real-time behavior modification.
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI B-BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Luke Mizzi, Seyedeh Farzaneh Hoseini, Marco Formighieri, Andrea Spaggiari
Summary: Shape memory alloys (SMA) are used in a novel SMA-metamaterial actuator to achieve a reversible, global elongation in multiple directions. The actuator consists of an SMA component, a bias component, and a metamaterial geometry that amplify and re-direct the unidirectional SMA actuation. A prototype actuator was tested in different configurations to demonstrate its functionality and reusability. A theoretical model was developed to predict the actuation stroke based on material properties and geometry, and was validated.
SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
K. K. Dudek, L. Mizzi, J. A. Iglesias Martinez, A. Spaggiari, G. Ulliac, R. Gatt, J. N. Grima, V. Laude, M. Kadic
Summary: The ability to control Poisson's ratio of functional materials is essential for the development of efficient structures in various fields. This study proposes novel microscopic 2D and 3D functionally-graded mechanical metamaterials that can exhibit a wide range of Poisson's ratio depending on their composition. The research also explores the dynamic properties of these structures, specifically how the variation in composition affects wave propagation velocity. This has significant implications for applications involving wave attenuation or sensors.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Joseph N. Grima, Michelle Vella Wood, Nadia Portelli, James N. Grima-Cornish, Daphne Attard, Alfred Gatt, Cynthia Formosa, Dario Cerasola
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of dermatological issues (calluses and blisters) on rowers' hands, as well as their perceptions and pain tolerance. The results showed that most rowers considered calluses to be non-painful, while blisters were perceived as more painful. Blisters and calluses were mainly located on the lower parts of the fingers and the upper inner palms.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2022)
