Research Projects

The proposed research aims to advance the design and understanding of mechanical metamaterials by developing novel reconfigurable configurations for noise attenuation and impact mitigation. Mechanical metamaterials exhibit exceptional properties originating from their microstructure configuration rather than material composition. They offer great promise in applications such as vibration isolation, protecting structures, and acoustic shielding. However, the current models often lack adaptability to accurately predict the behavior of metamaterials with complex geometries under dynamic loading. Therefore, the scientific objective of this project aims to develop a robust computational framework, validated through laboratory-scale prototypes, to model and optimize reconfigurable metamaterials for effective noise reduction and impact resistance. A core hypothesis is to incorporate topology optimization techniques into the design process to yield tunable structures with enhanced performance under varied loading and frequency conditions. The proposed model will account for non-linear deformation behavior, frequency bandgap formation, and dynamic responses under acoustic and impact excitations. To test this hypothesis, a predictive model based on the peridynamics framework capable of simulating metamaterial behavior under both static and dynamic loads will be developed. The optimized configurations of metamaterial will be fabricated using advanced manufacturing techniques, primarily fused deposition modeling and stereolithography-based 3D printing, which allow fabrication of complex geometries with high precision and material flexibility. Lab-scale experiments will be performed to evaluate vibration isolation and impact mitigation under controlled conditions. The performance effectiveness of metamaterials will be checked using energy-absorbing capacity, transmissibility, and fatigue over cyclic loading. This research project will advance the fundamental understanding of wave propagation in architected systems and establish a design methodology for reconfigurable metamaterials. The outcomes have potential applications in engineering systems for noise attenuation and impact mitigation. The research findings will lead to patentable innovations and a few high-impact publications, bridging the gap between computational design and real-world applications.