Customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse design
Abstract Passive wave transformation via nonlinearity is ubiquitous in settings from acoustics to optics and electromagnetics. It is well known that different nonlinearities yield different effects on propagating signals, which raises the question of “what precise nonlinearity is the best for a give...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58630-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850184104164720640 |
|---|---|
| author | Brianna MacNider Haning Xiu Caglar Tamur Kai Qian Ian Frankel Maya Brandy Hyunsun Alicia Kim Nicholas Boechler |
| author_facet | Brianna MacNider Haning Xiu Caglar Tamur Kai Qian Ian Frankel Maya Brandy Hyunsun Alicia Kim Nicholas Boechler |
| author_sort | Brianna MacNider |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Passive wave transformation via nonlinearity is ubiquitous in settings from acoustics to optics and electromagnetics. It is well known that different nonlinearities yield different effects on propagating signals, which raises the question of “what precise nonlinearity is the best for a given wave tailoring application?” In this work, considering a one-dimensional spring-mass chain connected by polynomial springs (a variant of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou system), we introduce a bilevel inverse design method which couples the shape optimization of structures for tailored constitutive responses with reduced-order nonlinear dynamical inverse design. We apply it to two qualitatively distinct problems—minimization of peak transmitted kinetic energy from impact, and pulse shape transformation—demonstrating our method’s breadth of applicability. For the impact problem, we obtain two fundamental insights. First, small differences in nonlinearity can drastically change the dynamic response of the system, from severely under- to outperforming a comparative linear system. Second, the oft-used strategy of impact mitigation via “energy locking” bistability can be significantly outperformed by our optimal nonlinearity. We validate this case with impact experiments and find excellent agreement. This study establishes a framework for broader passive nonlinear mechanical wave tailoring material design, with applications to computing, signal processing, shock mitigation, and autonomous materials. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e065de3a454419fae6d509e2ee6f5c3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e065de3a454419fae6d509e2ee6f5c32025-08-20T02:17:09ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-58630-8Customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse designBrianna MacNider0Haning Xiu1Caglar Tamur2Kai Qian3Ian Frankel4Maya Brandy5Hyunsun Alicia Kim6Nicholas Boechler7Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San DiegoDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San DiegoDepartment of Structural Engineering, University of California, San DiegoDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San DiegoDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San DiegoDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San DiegoDepartment of Structural Engineering, University of California, San DiegoDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San DiegoAbstract Passive wave transformation via nonlinearity is ubiquitous in settings from acoustics to optics and electromagnetics. It is well known that different nonlinearities yield different effects on propagating signals, which raises the question of “what precise nonlinearity is the best for a given wave tailoring application?” In this work, considering a one-dimensional spring-mass chain connected by polynomial springs (a variant of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou system), we introduce a bilevel inverse design method which couples the shape optimization of structures for tailored constitutive responses with reduced-order nonlinear dynamical inverse design. We apply it to two qualitatively distinct problems—minimization of peak transmitted kinetic energy from impact, and pulse shape transformation—demonstrating our method’s breadth of applicability. For the impact problem, we obtain two fundamental insights. First, small differences in nonlinearity can drastically change the dynamic response of the system, from severely under- to outperforming a comparative linear system. Second, the oft-used strategy of impact mitigation via “energy locking” bistability can be significantly outperformed by our optimal nonlinearity. We validate this case with impact experiments and find excellent agreement. This study establishes a framework for broader passive nonlinear mechanical wave tailoring material design, with applications to computing, signal processing, shock mitigation, and autonomous materials.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58630-8 |
| spellingShingle | Brianna MacNider Haning Xiu Caglar Tamur Kai Qian Ian Frankel Maya Brandy Hyunsun Alicia Kim Nicholas Boechler Customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse design Nature Communications |
| title | Customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse design |
| title_full | Customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse design |
| title_fullStr | Customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse design |
| title_short | Customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse design |
| title_sort | customizable wave tailoring nonlinear materials enabled by bilevel inverse design |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58630-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT briannamacnider customizablewavetailoringnonlinearmaterialsenabledbybilevelinversedesign AT haningxiu customizablewavetailoringnonlinearmaterialsenabledbybilevelinversedesign AT caglartamur customizablewavetailoringnonlinearmaterialsenabledbybilevelinversedesign AT kaiqian customizablewavetailoringnonlinearmaterialsenabledbybilevelinversedesign AT ianfrankel customizablewavetailoringnonlinearmaterialsenabledbybilevelinversedesign AT mayabrandy customizablewavetailoringnonlinearmaterialsenabledbybilevelinversedesign AT hyunsunaliciakim customizablewavetailoringnonlinearmaterialsenabledbybilevelinversedesign AT nicholasboechler customizablewavetailoringnonlinearmaterialsenabledbybilevelinversedesign |