Recent studies on periodic metamaterial systems have shown that remarkable properties adaptivity and versatility are often the products of exploiting internal, coexisting metastable states. Motivated by this concept, this research develops and explores a local-global design framework wherein macroscopic system-level properties are sought according to a strategic periodic constituent composition and assembly. To this end and taking inspiration from recent insights in studies of multiphase composite materials and cytoskeletal actin networks, this study develops adaptable metastable modules that are assembled into modular metastructures, such that the latter are invested with synergistic features due to the strategic module development and integration. Using this approach, it is seen that modularity creates an accessible pathway to exploit metastable states for programmable metastructure adaptivity, including a near-continuous variation of mechanical properties or stable topologies and adjustable hysteresis. A model is developed to understand the source of the synergistic characteristics, and theoretical findings are found to be in good agreement with experimental results. Important design-based questions are raised regarding the modular metastructure concept, and a genetic algorithm (GA) routine is developed to elucidate the sensitivities of the properties variation with respect to the statistics amongst assembled module design variables. To obtain target multifunctionality and adaptivity, the routine discovers that particular degrees and types of modular heterogeneity are required. Future realizations of modular metastructures are discussed to illustrate the extensibility of the design concept and broad application base.
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February 2016
Research-Article
Designing and Harnessing the Metastable States of a Modular Metastructure for Programmable Mechanical Properties Adaptation
R. L. Harne,
R. L. Harne
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: harne.3@osu.edu
The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: harne.3@osu.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Z. Wu,
Z. Wu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Search for other works by this author on:
K. W. Wang
K. W. Wang
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Search for other works by this author on:
R. L. Harne
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: harne.3@osu.edu
The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210
e-mail: harne.3@osu.edu
Z. Wu
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
K. W. Wang
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Design Automation Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received June 25, 2015; final manuscript received October 27, 2015; published online December 10, 2015. Assoc. Editor: James K. Guest.
J. Mech. Des. Feb 2016, 138(2): 021402 (9 pages)
Published Online: December 10, 2015
Article history
Received:
June 25, 2015
Revised:
October 27, 2015
Citation
Harne, R. L., Wu, Z., and Wang, K. W. (December 10, 2015). "Designing and Harnessing the Metastable States of a Modular Metastructure for Programmable Mechanical Properties Adaptation." ASME. J. Mech. Des. February 2016; 138(2): 021402. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032093
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