Design and Analysis of a 3D Frictional Mechanical Metamaterial for Efficient Energy Dissipation

Abstract

This study introduces a novel frictional mechanical metamaterial composed of a central hexagon or re-entrant honeycomb frame, a lower section with four tapered columns, and an upper portion with a blade shape. When subjected to an external uniaxial force, the 3D structure of the metamaterial utilizes sliding interactions to dissipate frictional energy. The mechanical properties of the proposed metamaterial, such as load-displacement relationships, hysteresis area, and peak force, can be fine-tuned by adjusting geometric parameters and constituent materials. Extensive analysis is conducted through experimental compression tests, finite element (FE) simulations, and theoretical modeling. Comparative assessments of the metamaterial's energy dissipation performance demonstrated a good agreement between experimental and simulation results, with minor variations observed for deeper compression cycles. The proposed metamaterial offers the potential for superior elastic energy absorption and dissipation, making it a promising solution for applications requiring repeated energy dissipation or damping under cyclical loads while maintaining a lightweight profile.