Exploring the dynamics of hourglass shaped lattice metastructures

Continuous demand for the improvement of mechanical performance of engineering structures pushes the need for metastructures to fulfil multiple functions. Extensive work on lattice-based metastructure has shown their ability to manipulate wave propagation and producing bandgaps at specific frequency ranges. Enhanced customizability makes them ideal candidates for multifunctional applications. This paper explores a wide range of nonlinear mechanical behavior that can be generated out of the same lattice material by changing the building block into dome shaped structures which improves the functionality of material significantly. We propose a novel hourglass shaped lattice metastructure that takes advantage of the combination of two oppositely oriented coaxial domes, providing an opportunity for higher customizability and the ability to tailor its dynamic response. Six new classes of hourglass shaped lattice metastructures have been developed through combinations of solid shells, regular honeycomb lattices and auxetic lattices. Numerical simulation, analytical modelling, additive layer manufacturing (3D printing) and experimental testing are implemented to justify the evaluation of their mechanics and reveal the underlying physics responsible for their unusual nonlinear behaviour. We further obtained the lattice dependent frequency response and damping offered by the various classes of hourglass metastructures. This study paves the way for incorporating hourglass based oscillators to be used as building block of future mechanical metamaterials, leading to a new class of tunable metamaterial over a wide range of operating frequencies. The proposed class of metastructure will be useful in applications where lightweight and tunable properties with broadband vibration suppression and wave attenuation abilities are necessary.