Functional metamaterial that can snap between two stable configurations

Description

The response of highly deformable architectures can be programmed to impart a series of desirable functionalities, such as extraordinary geometric changes and conformational rearrangements, highly non-linear mechanical responses, and unusual mechanical properties. For instance, the soft metamaterial shown in the picture above can be made to snap into distinct reversible configurations, a behaviour that can potentially serve to generate morphing, deployable and adaptive structures.

Relevant publications

Rafsanjani A, Akbarzadeh AH, Pasini D, Snapping Mechanical Metamaterials under Tension, Advanced Materials 27: 5931-5935, 2015.
[featured in Nature Materials , Scientific American Briefings 4 (39) ] [Adv Mater Frontispiece ]

Shang X, Liu L, Rafsanjani A, Pasini D, Durable Bistable Auxetics Made of Rigid Solids, Journal of Materials Research“ Focus Issue: Architected Materials, Vol. 33 (3), pp. 300-308, 2018. . [Featured in the MRS Bulletin]

Rafsanjani A, Pasini D, Bistable Auxetic Mechanical Metamaterials Inspired by Ancient Geometric Motifs, Extreme Mechanics Letters, Vol 9(2), 291-296 2016.
[related News coverage of APS March Meeting on BBC]