Geomaterial-inspired nonlinear mechanical meta-structures
Abstract
The proposed research seeks to develop new nonlinear mechanical meta-structures to uniquely control wave propagation, modeled after microstructures of geomaterials. Meta-structures combine concepts from metamaterials (e.g. subwavelength components, periodic microstructures), with meso-scale architectures and finite boundaries to achieve engineered structures with tailored mechanical and dynamic properties. However, current meta-structures have mostly been restricted to the linear regime, which greatly limits their behaviors. To fill this gap, we focus on incorporating nonlinearities in meta-structures that are inspired by geomaterials such as sedimentary rock, which are known to have highly nonlinear responses due to different features in their microstructure. While it is well-studied how nonlinearity in such materials can be used to detect damage and better characterize wave propagation through geomaterials, it is yet to be fully understood from where this nonlinearity originates, and how these features can be used to engineer global nonlinear properties of meta-structures. We seek to understand what mechanisms give rise to nonlinearity in geomaterials, how periodic arrangements of these features result in nonlinear wave propagation behaviors, and how to exploit the nonlinear behavior of geomaterial features to design meta-structures with global, advanced nonlinear responses. Our objectives are thus to analytically, numerically, and experimentally characterize the response of individual nonlinear features inspired by geomaterial microstructures, and of engineered configurations and arrangements of these features. The developed nonlinear meta-structures are expected to enable desirable nonlinear wave propagation properties that are not possible in linear meta-structures, such as energy transfer between low and high frequency modes and amplitude-dependent behaviors such as tunable low frequency band gaps. These meta-structures have engineering applications as damage-tolerant materials, and as protective materials that redistribute energy from impact or blasts. They will also enable practical noise and vibration suppression applications, improving structural performance, user experience, and fuel efficiency in transportation structures. Fundamentally, the developed meta-structures will open new paths to behaviors and functionalities that are not accessible to linear meta-structures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010250
Entities
People
- Kathryn H Matlack
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign