Phase transitions in 2D multistable mechanical metamaterials via collisions of soliton-like pulses.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, mechanical metamaterials have been developed that support the propagation of an intriguing variety of nonlinear waves, including transition waves and vector solitons (solitons with coupling between multiple degrees of freedom). Here we report observations of phase transitions in 2D multistable mechanical metamaterials that are initiated by collisions of soliton-like pulses in the metamaterial. Analogous to first-order phase transitions in crystalline solids, we observe that the multistable metamaterials support phase transitions if the new phase meets or exceeds a critical nucleus size. If this criterion is met, the new phase subsequently propagates in the form of transition waves, converting the rest of the metamaterial to the new phase. More interestingly, we numerically

SUBMITTER: Jiao W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10771479 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature