A novel design of multi-stable metastructures for energy dissipation. (15th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yong; Tichem, Marcel; van Keulen, Fred
• Is Part Of: Materials & design. Volume 212(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-15
• Subjects: Snap-through behavior -- Multi-stable metastructure -- Lattice structure -- Cross-section design; Materials -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Conception technique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2021.110234
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-1275

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Lattice and hollow beam designs enable multi-stable metastructures to enhance their energy dissipation capability. Enhanced structural bending stiffness is the key factor that contributes to the increase of critical loads and energy dissipation. Tuning the overall beam thickness could effectively lead to a stiffer mechanical response, but it will be impeded by local buckling. The proposed design strategy can be extended to shell structures for enhancing energy dissipation. Abstract: Multi-stable metastructures composed of curved beams can switch to a series of stable configurations via elastic snap-through transitions. The elastic deformations allow metastructures to function as reusable energy absorbers. However, conventional metastructure designs based on solid beams often result in relatively low energy dissipation. In this work, it is found that by increasing the beam unit's bending stiffness while keeping the volume/mass constant, energy dissipation of the metastructure can be largely improved. Based on this observation, we propose two types of structural designs (lattice and hollow cross-section design) as building blocks for multi-stable metastructures. The lattice design is realized by incorporating lattice structures into pre-shaped beams while for the hollow cross-section design, a box-shaped cross section is adopted. The proposed structures are experimentally characterized under cyclic loading and are shown to exhibit sequential snap-through transitions with relatively large energy dissipation. Results show the snap-through behavior can be further tailored through tuning structural in-plane thickness. Effects of geometric parameters on snap-through, local buckling and bi-stability are investigated, and the feasible design domains for selecting proper lattice and cross-section geometries are identified. In addition, we demonstrate that the proposed design is not restricted to beams, and can be extended to shell structures.