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Meta-atom based two-sphere Newton's cradle
Simon A Pope1, Oliver B Wright2
1University of Sheffield, Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom.
Physical Review. E
|October 21, 2025
Summary
This study explores collision dynamics in mass-in-mass resonators, akin to a Newton's cradle. Researchers found unique behaviors like spheres sticking together or rebounding off each other, controllable via effective parameters.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Locally resonant metamaterials are widely studied for wave propagation in periodic structures.
- Mass-in-mass resonators offer a unique platform for investigating complex dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the collision dynamics of two pendulum-suspended mass-in-mass resonators.
- To explore nonconventional collision behaviors and their dependence on effective parameters.
- To establish a framework for "collision-based metamaterial" development.
Main Methods:
- Modeling the collision dynamics of two identical mass-in-mass resonators.
- Analyzing scenarios where internal resonator frequency significantly exceeds pendulum frequency.
- Characterizing collision outcomes using effective parameters.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that collision dynamics can be described by effective parameters, analogous to wave propagation in metamaterials.
- Observed nonconventional behaviors: single-sphere rebound, coupled motion, and opposing recoils.
- Showcased that effective parameters can be tuned to achieve these distinct responses, differing from conventional Newton's cradle dynamics.
- Investigated complex dynamics arising from multiple collisions.
Conclusions:
- Collision dynamics in mass-in-mass systems exhibit tunable, nonconventional behaviors.
- Effective parameters provide a powerful tool for characterizing and controlling these collisions.
- This research opens avenues for novel "collision-based metamaterial" designs and applications.
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