Minimal Surface-Based Materials for Topological Elastic Wave Guiding

Materials based on minimal surface geometries have shown superior strength and stiffness at low densities, which makes them promising continuous-based material platforms for a variety of engineering applications. In this work, it is demonstrated how these mechanical properties can be complemented by dynamic functionalities resulting from robust topological guiding of elastic waves at interfaces that are incorporated into the considered material platforms. Starting from the definition of Schwarz P minimal surface, geometric parametrizations are introduced that break spatial symmetry by forming 1D dimerized and 2D hexagonal minimal surface-based materials. Breaking of spatial symmetries produces topologically non-trivial interfaces that support the localization of vibrational modes and the robust propagation of elastic waves along pre-defined paths. These dynamic properties are predicted through numerical simulations and are illustrated by performing vibration and wave propagation experiments on additively manufactured samples. The introduction of symmetry-breaking topological interfaces through parametrizations that modify the geometry of periodic minimal surfaces suggests a new strategy to supplement the load-bearing properties of this class of materials with novel dynamic functionalities.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates how dynamic functionalities can be added to materials based on minimal surface geometries through topological guiding of elastic waves at interfaces. By modifying the geometric parametrizations, topologically non-trivial interfaces are formed to support localized vibrational modes and robust propagation of elastic waves.