Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar

*Connection details for this online presentation will be posted when available.

Architected lattices are materials that derive their properties from the selection of both their constitutive materials and the geometry of their micro- and meso-structure. Most existing architected lattices are intrinsically passive, with properties fixed once fabricated. This limits their applications in areas where material adaptivity and tunability are required. In this talk, I will present the development of architected lattices whose mechanical properties can be actively controlled and can adapt to different dynamic conditions. First of all, I will demonstrate an architected lattice filled with granular particles whose damping properties can be controlled to achieve optimal energy absorption, over a range of impact energies. Then, I will show a textile-like sheet with interlocking particles that has variable stiffness and reconfigurable shape, which can be used for wearable soft-exoskeleton applications. In the end, I will discuss an actively modulated phononic lattice that allows non- reciprocal wave propagation and unidirectional vibration mitigation. These works open routes towards creating the next generation of structured materials which adapt to varying environmental conditions while providing optimal protection.