Instabilities in highly deformable systems: unique opportunities for control of flow and vibrations

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A novel class of active devices with tuned instabilities is emerging from the exciting field of compliant structures for the design of actuators, adaptive systems, and self-regulating fluidics. Yet, available characterization techniques are restricted to conventional materials and promising functionalities remain to be explored. This research project at the research group of K. Bertoldi (Harvard University) aims at exploiting latest research on non-linear structures to sharpen our understanding and scientific classification of modern materials and to extend the application areas of tuned instabilities in various environments.In subproject I, the dynamic processes in fluid-filled, highly deformable structures are simulated and related to geometric and material properties. The unique opportunity of reversible, drastic compaction allows to cover soft structures, compact materials, and hybrids in between. This unifying approach extends conventional characterization techniques (e.g. nondestructive parameter identification, prediction of critical frequencies) to novel structures.In subproject II, non-linear resonators are embedded in strain-controlled buckling cells. The spectral richness of local resonators is regulated by the buckling of the deployable cell structure, yielding a new functional meta-material with various tunable attenuation regimes. Numerical and experimental tests of the most promising geometries will prove the robustness and applicability for an optimized design.