Abstract
A biomimetic shock absorbing mechanism, inspired by the bi-stable elongation behavior of the giant protein titin, is examined. A bi-stable element, composed of three mass particles with monotonous interaction forces, is suggested to facilitate an internal degree of freedom of finite mass which contributes significantly to dissipation upon unlocking of an internal link. An essential feature of the suggested element is that it undergoes reversible rapture and therefore retrieves its initial configuration once unloaded. The quasistatic and dynamic behaviors are investigated showing similarity to the common tri-linear bi-stable response, with two steady phases separated by a spinodal region. The dynamic behavior of a chain of elements is also examined, for several loading scenarios, showing that the suggested mechanism serves as an efficient shock absorber in a sub-critical dampening environment, as compared with a simple mass on spring system. Propagation of shock waves and refraction waves in an element chain is observed and the effect of natural imperfections is considered.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 426-439 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2014 |
Keywords
- Bi-stable solids
- Nonlinear dynamics
- Shock absorption
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering