BRITE Pivot: Emergent Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Dynamics of Odd Elastic Solids

线弹性力学已被广泛而成功地用于研究许多固体的力学行为和性质。 然而，线弹性固体是机械被动的，不能对周围环境做功。作为另一种途径，这个促进工程变革和公平进步的研究思路（BRITE）枢轴奖支持基础研究，以阐明奇怪的弹性固体或力学响应不对称的线性弹性固体如何表现出以前在量子力学系统中看到的独特动力学现象。从这项研究的见解将提供一个基本的理解，新的和独特的方法来控制，引导，重定向，衰减，放大，并使用简单的，弹性固体的机械波能。由于这项研究的跨学科性质，这种理解可能会对多个领域产生重大影响，包括多功能超材料，能量收集，软机器人，凝聚态物理和振动控制。此外，该奖项还将支持：将高中生纳入研究，整合研究和教育以推广高中生，以及在机械工程课程中开发数字教育内容。 线弹性力学关注的是具有对称刚度矩阵的固体，而奇弹性力学关注的是刚度矩阵不对称的线弹性固体。 本研究的目的是阐明基本的结构，性能的关系，使固体表现出非对称刚度矩阵，此外，手征性和非互易性之间的相互作用有什么样的作用，在治理突发奇弹性行为的固体。 通过发展一个各向异性手征非互易弹性场理论，将捕获方向性和手征非互易性对奇弹性固体的力学和非厄米动力学的影响。 这一跨学科的努力将带来新的见解的机制，使非对称弹性固体，使新兴的动力学行为和属性，是不可能在经典的，线性弹性固体和structures.This奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得支持的评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

Linear elasticity has been widely and successfully used to study the mechanical behavior and properties of many solids. However, linear elastic solids are mechanically passive and cannot do work on their surroundings. As an alternative route, this Boosting Research Ideas for Transformative and Equitable Advances in Engineering (BRITE) Pivot award supports fundamental research to elucidate how odd elastic solids, or linear elastic solids whose mechanical response is non-symmetric, can exhibit unique dynamical phenomena previously seen in quantum mechanical systems. Insights from this study will provide a fundamental understanding of novel and distinct approaches to controlling, guiding, redirecting, attenuating, amplifying, and using mechanical wave energy using simple, elastic solids. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this research, this understanding may significantly impact a diverse suite of fields, including multifunctional metamaterials, energy harvesting, soft robotics, condensed matter physics, and vibration control. In addition, this award will support: the inclusion of high school students in research, integration of research and education for outreach to high school students, and the development of digital educational content in mechanical engineering curricula. While linear elasticity focuses on solids having a symmetric stiffness matrix, odd elasticity focuses on linear elastic solids whose stiffness matrix is not symmetric. This research aims to elucidate the fundamental structure-property relationships that enable a solid exhibit a non-symmetric stiffness matrix, and furthermore, what role the interplay between chirality and nonreciprocity has in governing emergent odd elastic behavior in solids. By developing an anisotropic chiral, nonreciprocal elastic field theory, the effects of both directional and chiral nonreciprocity on the mechanics and non-Hermitian dynamics of odd elastic solids will be captured. This interdisciplinary effort will bring new insights into the mechanisms by which asymmetric elastic solids enable emergent dynamical behavior and properties that are not possible in classical, linear elastic solids and structures.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.