Topological Mechanical Metamaterials
Vincenzo Vitelli
Physics and James Franck Institute, University of Chicago
ABSTRACT: One of the open challenges of modern material science is to create artificial structures with unconventional mechanical responses, which can be programmed by designing their geometry or topology. Such structures, termed mechanical metamaterials, can guide sound in controlled ways. When these properties are linked to a topological index, they robustly resist a wide range of perturbations. Vitelli exploits the principle of topological robustness to design linear and non-linear mechanical states whose spatial extent can be tuned from localized to extended by progressively closing the acoustic gap in the bulk structures, in analogy with their quantum counterparts. The topological design rules Vitelli uncovered will be demonstrated using macroscopic prototypes based on geared, origami-like, cellular structures. Vitelli next discusses how to build mechanical topological insulators using active liquids that flow spontaneously without external drive.
