Stable propagation of mechanical signals in soft media using stored elastic energy

TLDR

Advances in nonlinear mechanics enable novel mechanical functions, yet intrinsic dissipation limits their use in soft polymeric materials for wave propagation. We employ bistable beams that store and release elastic energy along the wave path, balancing dissipative and dispersive effects. The soft, 3‑D‑printable system propagates large‑amplitude signals over arbitrary distances without degradation and can be customized to implement mechanical logic for soft autonomous systems.

Abstract

Significance Advances in nonlinear mechanics have enabled the realization of a variety of nontraditional functions in mechanical systems. Intrinsic dissipation typically limits the utility of these effects, with soft polymeric materials in particular being incompatible with meaningful wave propagation. Here we demonstrate a nonlinear soft system that is able to propagate large-amplitude signals over arbitrary distances without any signal degradation. We make use of bistable beams to store and then release elastic energy along the path of the wave, balancing both dissipative and dispersive effects. The soft and 3D printable system is highly customizable and tunable, enabling the design of mechanical logic that is relevant to soft autonomous systems (e.g., soft robotics).