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Characterizing Dissipative Elastic Metamaterials Produced by Additive Manufacturing
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Tunable photo-responsive elastic metamaterials
Antonio S Gliozzi1, Marco Miniaci2,3, Annalisa Chiappone4
1Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy. antonio.gliozzi@polito.it.
Nature Communications
|May 24, 2020
Summary
This study presents a novel 3D-printed elastic metamaterial tunable by light. Researchers demonstrated reversible control over its frequency band gap, enabling a light-activated elastic switch.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Engineering
Background:
- Metamaterials offer advanced control over wave propagation, but fixed frequency responses limit applications.
- Existing tunable metamaterials often rely on impractical external stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel elastic metamaterial with a light-tunable frequency response.
- To demonstrate a functional light-responsive elastic switch.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a polymeric 3D-printed elastic metamaterial.
- Characterization of the material's transmission spectrum.
- Selective laser illumination to tune the band gap.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated reversible doubling of the frequency band gap width upon laser illumination.
- Achieved a functional elastic-switch with a one-minute lag time.
- The switch operated reliably over one hundred cycles.
Conclusions:
- Light-responsive elastic metamaterials can be deterministically tuned.
- This technology offers a practical solution for active elastic wave control devices.
