Tunable-with-energy intense modal interactions induced by geometric nonlinearity

Modal interactions are distinct features of nonlinear systems that can be exploited in applications such as vibration and shock mitigation, targeted (irreversible) energy transfers (TET), and acoustic/stress wave tailoring. For such applications, different types of nonlinearities, e.g. hardening, softening, smooth, non-smooth, material or geometric, have been considered. In this work, we examine the geometric nonlinearity resulting from an initially inclined element consisting of a linear spring and a viscous damper connected in parallel, having an initial angle of inclination, [Formula: see text]. Because of its inclined configuration, this element possesses strong (and doubly tunable with respect to [Formula: see text] and energy) geometrically nonlinear stiffness and damping effects, despite the linear constitutive laws governing its constituent components. First, we consider a single-degree-of-freedom linearly grounded oscillator attached to the nonlinear inclined element. Omitting dissipative effects, we investigate the frequency–energy relation of this system by employing the canonical action-angle transformation and show that, depending on the initial angle of inclination and the energy-level, the resulting nonlinearity can be tuned to be softening, hardening or a combination of both. Next, we explore the efficacy of the geometric nonlinearity to induce strong modal interactions by considering a three-degree-of-freedom lightly damped primary system that is weakly coupled to a single-degree-of-freedom lightly damped attachment with the inclined nonlinear element, subjected to impulsive excitation. Varying [Formula: see text] and the input energy, we demonstrate strong modal energy-exchanges between the modes of the primary system and the nonlinear attachment over broad energy-dependent spans of [Formula: see text]. We show that the passive self-adaptiveness of the nonlinear damping and the hardening–softening geometric nonlinearity can induce narrowband or broadband frequency TET, including high-to-low frequency energy transfers. Interestingly, over a definitive range of [Formula: see text], these modal interactions may be limited only between the nonlinear mode of the attachment and the highest-frequency linear mode of the primary system, inducing strong high-frequency targeted energy transfer to the primary system.

Tunable Wave Propagation in Granular Crystals by Altering Lattice Network Topology

We develop a framework for wave tailoring by altering the lattice network topology of a granular crystal consisting of spherical granules in contact. The lattice topology can alternate between two stable configurations, with the spherical granules of the lattice held in stable equilibrium in each configuration by gravity. Under impact, the first configuration results in a wave with rapidly decaying amplitude as it propagates along a primary chain, while the second configuration results in a solitary wave propagating along the primary chain with no decay. The mechanism to achieve such tunability is by having energy diverted to the granules adjacent to the primary chain in the first case but not the second. The tunable design of the proposed network is validated using both numerical simulations and experiments. In terms of potential applications, the proposed bistable lattice network can be viewed either as a wave attenuator or as a device that allows higher amplitude wave propagation in one direction than in the opposite direction. The lattice is analogous to a crystal phase transformation due to the change in atomic configurations, leading to the change in properties at the macroscale.

Origami Metastructures for Tunable Wave Propagation

Wave propagation inside a host media with periodically distributed inclusions can exhibit bandgaps. While controlling acoustic wave propagation has large impact on many engineering applications, studies on broadband acoustic bandgap (ABG) adaptation is still outstanding. One of the important properties of periodic structure in ABG design is the lattice-type. It is possible that by reconfiguring the periodic architectures between different lattice-types with fundamentally distinct dispersion relations, we may achieve broadband wave propagation tuning. In this spirit, this research pioneers a new class of reconfigurable periodic structures called origami metastructures (OM) that can achieve ABG adaption via topology reconfiguration by rigid-folding. It is found that origami folding, which can enable significant and precise topology reconfigurations between distinct Bravais lattice-types in underlying periodic architecture, can bring about drastic changes in wave propagation behavior. Such versatile wave transmission control is demonstrated via numerical studies that couple wave propagation theory with origami folding kinematics. Further, we also exploit the novel ABG adaptation feature of OM to design structures that can exhibit unique tunable non-reciprocal behavior. Overall the broadband adaptable wave characteristics of the OM coupled with scale independent rigid-folding mechanism can bring on-demand wave tailoring to a new level.

Impact Response of Elasto-Plastic Granular Chains Containing an Intruder Particle

Wave propagation in homogeneous granular chains subjected to impact loads causing plastic deformations is substantially different from that in elastic chains. To design wave tailoring materials, it is essential to gain a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of heterogeneous granular chains under loads where the effects of plasticity are significant. In the first part of this work, contact laws for dissimilar elastic–perfectly plastic spherical granules are developed using finite element simulations. They are systematically normalized, with the normalizing variables determined from first principles, and a unified contact law for heterogeneous spheres is constructed and validated. In the second part, dynamic simulations are performed on granular chains placed in a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) setup. An intruder particle having different material properties is placed in an otherwise homogeneous granular chain. The position and relative material property of the intruder is shown to have a significant effect on the energy and peak transmitted force down the chain. Finally, the key nondimensional material parameter that dictates the fraction of energy transmitted in a heterogeneous granular chain is identified.