Solitary and shock waves in discrete double power-law materials

摘要

A novel strongly nonlinear laminar metamaterial supporting new types ofsolitary and shock waves with impact energy mitigating capabilities ispresented. It consists of steel plates with intermittent polymer toroidal ringsacting as strongly nonlinear springs with large allowable strain. Theirforce-displacement relationship is described by the addition of two power-lawrelationships resulting in a solitary wave speed and width depending on theamplitude. This double nonlinearity allows splitting of an initial impulse intotwo separate strongly nonlinear solitary wave trains. Solitary and shock wavesare observed experimentally and analyzed numerically in an assembly with Teflono-rings.