Dependence of the kinetic energy absorption capacity of bistable mechanical metamaterials on impactor mass and velocity

Using an alternative mechanism to dissipation or scattering, bistable structures and mechanical metamaterials have shown promise for mitigating the detrimental effects of impact by reversibly locking energy into strained material. Herein, we extend prior works on absorption via computationally explore dependence kinetic transmission velocity mass impactor, with strain rates exceeding 102 s−1. We observe a large both impactor parameters, ranging from significantly better worse performance than comparative linear then correlate variability in solitary wave formation system give analytical estimates idealized capacity under dynamic loading. In addition, find significant damping accompanied qualitative difference propagation within system. The complex dynamics revealed this study offer potential future guidance application applications including human engineered shock protection devices.