Snapping metamaterials

Abstract

Mechanical metamaterials are well known to be capable of nonlinear stress–strain behaviour, associated with their unique architecture rather than their chemical make-up. Now, Ahmad Rafsanjani et al. report a design that permits a series of large serrations — or load drops — during tensile loading, caused by snapping beam buckling. Their design relies on an architecture consisting of two features, bearing and snapping segments, with the snapping segments periodically attached to the bearing segments. During tensile straining of the rubber-like material, the snapping segments behave like c… Adv. Mater. doi: 10.1002/adma.201502809