Spring-programmable multi-feature hyperelastic mechanical metamaterials

Abstract

Conventional energy-dissipating materials are overwhelmingly designed to be disposable, and are less likely to change or regulate the amount of energy consumed. Although reusability and programmability are possible, limited elastic deformation with little energy dissipation, high instability, and slow response still exist in existing energy-dissipating metamaterials. Here, a metamaterial design is reported that utilizes programmable springs as the regulating core and enables more diverse regulating paradigms by transforming the combinatorial approach. This design is capable of achieving continuously tunable energy dissipation as well as metamaterial modulus while balancing robustness and hyperelasticity. The spring-programmable multi-feature hyperelastic mechanical metamaterials are capable of regulating energy dissipation and metamaterial modulus across orders of magnitude, breaking the boundary between elastic deformation and large deformation, and integrating their physical properties, thus realizing the integration of the functions and roles of both. Our findings put the application of programmable hyperelastic components in intelligent machinery within reach.