A 3D modular meta-structure with continuous mechanism motion and bistability

Mechanical metamaterials/meta-structures with bistability/multi-stability are of great potential use in engineering applications ranging from shape reconfiguration to impact mitigation. Current designs are mainly based on typical 2D bistable components with two stable states, thus having limited deformation amplitude and stiffness tunability. Here in this paper we propose an innovative 3D modular bistable meta-structure based on two different types of mechanisms with partially compatible motion ranges, which have two distinct ranges of low-stiffness mechanism motion where the two based-mechanisms are kinematically compatible, separated by high-stiffness structural deformation due to the incompatibility between the motion of base-mechanisms. By setting up the mechanism kinematics model and structure mechanics model, we are capable of programming the detailed ranges of mechanism motion and structural deformation, even to obtain a stable state for the meta-structure, while the stiffness transition can also be fine-tuned by adjusting the geometric parameters and hinge stiffness. This work is expected to introduce the concept of multi-stable mechanism as well as open a new revenue for the design of 3D modular metamaterials with customized multi-stability. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper proposes an innovative 3D modular bistable meta-structure based on two different types of mechanisms with partially compatible motion ranges, allowing for fine-tuning of stiffness transition by adjusting geometric parameters and hinge stiffness to achieve a stable state for the meta-structure.