3D topological mechanical metamaterial for low-frequency and multiband vibration control

What is it about?

3D topological metamaterials have advanced beyond 1D and 2D systems to enable unprecedented control over the flow of elastic waves and vibrations in mechanical structures. However, the 3D topological mechanical metamaterials studied thus far are largely limited to operating in single- and high-frequency regimes, and a comprehensive experimental study remains elusive. In this paper, we synthesize a 3D topological metamaterial that harnesses multimodal local resonance to unlock multiband and low-frequency elastic wave control. This work leverages innovative fabrication and measurement techniques to produce unequivocal experimental evidence of 2D planar and multi-polarized elastic waveguides.

Featured Image

Photo by Richard Horvath on Unsplash

Photo by Richard Horvath on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The outcomes from this investigation will help to pave the way for future research and practical engineering implementations of 3D wave-based mechanical devices that process information, mitigate vibrations, and harvest energy.