Tensegrity Metamaterials: Toward Failure‐Resistant Engineering Systems through Delocalized Deformation

Abstract

Failure of materials and structures is inherently linked to localized mechanisms, from shear banding in metals, to crack propagation in ceramics and collapse of space‐trusses after buckling of individual struts. In lightweight structures, localized deformation causes catastrophic failure, limiting their application to small strain regimes. To ensure robustness under real‐world nonlinear loading scenarios, overdesigned linear‐elastic constructions are adopted. Here, the concept of delocalized deformation as a pathway to failure‐resistant structures and materials is introduced. Space‐tileable tensegrity metamaterials achieving delocalized deformation via the discontinuity of their compression members are presented. Unprecedented failure resistance is shown, with up to 25‐fold enhancement in deformability and orders of magnitude increased energy absorption capability without failure over same‐strength state‐of‐the‐art lattice architectures. This study provides important groundwork for design of superior engineering systems, from reusable impact protection systems to adaptive load‐bearing structures.

Recent Progress in Active Mechanical Metamaterials and Construction Principles

“…This kind of metamaterial could retain its strength even in extreme conditions. Bauer et al [215] proposed mechanical metamaterials with integral self-tensioning truss architectures, which were both ultralight and failure-resistance. Jenett et al [46] put forward the concept of discretely assembled mechanical metamaterials, which was like Lego building blocks (Figure 11c).…”

“…Bauer et al. [ 215 ] proposed mechanical metamaterials with integral self‐tensioning truss architectures, which were both ultralight and failure‐resistance. Jenett et al.…”

Seventy years of tensegrities (and counting)

“…This was done in [163], where T3-based bistable lattices were subjected to cyclic compression tests (Fig. 25b), and in [164], where evidence is given that tensegrity-like lattices exhibit delocalized deformation at failure in compression.…”

Less Is More: Hollow‐Truss Microlattice Metamaterials with Dual Sound Dissipation Mechanisms and Enhanced Broadband Sound Absorption

“…A new class of materials, microlattices, manifests from this. Owing to their high degrees of design freedoms for customizable feature-pore morphology and interconnectivity, microlattices are becoming the state-ofthe-art materials for various applications such as high-strength lightweight materials, [1][2][3] energy absorbers, [4,5] electrodes, [6] Being a lightweight material with high design freedoms, there are increasing research interests in microlattice metamaterials as sound absorbers. However, thus far, microlattices are limited to one sound dissipation mechanism, and this inhibits their broadband absorption capabilities.…”

“…A new class of materials, microlattices, manifests from this. Owing to their high degrees of design freedoms for customizable feature‐pore morphology and interconnectivity, microlattices are becoming the state‐of‐the‐art materials for various applications such as high‐strength lightweight materials, [ 1–3 ] energy absorbers, [ 4,5 ] electrodes, [ 6 ] programmable materials, [ 7,8 ] and artificial bioimplants, [ 9 ] etc. Recently, microlattices have also profound research interests for applications as sound absorbers.…”