Abstract
Mechanical metamaterials have gained increasing interest owing to its unique properties and promising applications. However, most developed mechanical metamaterials feature a single-step pathway and/or a single deformation mode, which limits their multi-task applications. In this paper, a multi-step metamaterial (MSM) is introduced. Under compression, the MSM can translate global loading into multiple pathways of deformation, giving rise to multi-stress plateaus in the stress-strain curves. The underlying mechanism is the combination of sequential snap-through and Euler buckling at microscopic unit cell level. Theoretical models are developed to quantify the multi-step deformation feature of the MSM and are validated by experiments and finite element simulations. By varying the geometric parameters of the constituent components of the MSM, its deformation can be programmed. The concept of the developed MSM provides a new perspective for designing metamaterials with multiple tasks, e.g., an energy absorber suitable for both light and heavy impacts, logic gates for manipulating mechanical signals in mechanical computing, among others.
Published Version
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