Active mechanical metamaterial with embedded piezoelectric actuation

Metamaterials are artificially structured materials and exhibit properties that uncommon or non-existent in nature. Mechanical metamaterials show exotic mechanical properties, such as negative stiffness, vanishing shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio. These stem from the geometry arrangement of metamaterial unit elements and, therefore, cannot be altered after fabrication. Active aim to overcome this limitation by embedding actuation into alter material state. This could pave way for a variety applications industries, aerospace, robotics, high-tech engineering. work proposes studies an active concept can actively control force deformation distribution within its lattice. Individually controllable units designed based on piezostack actuators compliant mechanisms interconnected Both lattice modeled, built, experimentally studied. In experiments, attained 240 1510 µm extensions, respectively, quasi-static resonant operation at 81 Hz, 0.3 N blocked frequencies up 100 Hz. Quasi-static experiments prototype demonstrated morphing four different configurations: Tilt left, tilt right, convex, concave profiles. feasibility altering Much more research is expected follow field since tuneable state enable qualitatively new engineering solutions.