Symmetry-extended counting rules for periodic frameworks

Abstract

A symmetry-adapted version of the Maxwell rule appropriate to periodic bar-and-joint frameworks is obtained, and is further extended to body-and-joint systems. The treatment deals with bodies and forces that are replicated in every unit cell, and uses the point group isomorphic to the factor group of the space group of the framework. Explicit expressions are found for the numbers and symmetries of detectable mechanisms and states of self-stress in terms of the numbers and symmetries of framework components. This approach allows detection and characterization of mechanisms and states of selfstress in microscopic and macroscopic materials and meta-materials. Illustrative examples are described. The notion of local isostaticity of periodic frameworks is extended to include point-group symmetry. © 2013 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society.