Wave-based reading of mechanical memory in multistable mass-in-mass metamaterials

Abstract

Mechanical metamaterials with integrated bistable elements have emerged as promising platforms for mechanical information storage, where transitions between stable states encode information as mechanical bits. While it has been shown that information can be written into such metamaterials by applying global inputs, existing readout strategies rely predominantly on visual inspection. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a mass-in-mass bistable metamaterial with state-dependent stiffness that enables both writing and reading of mechanical information using only boundary-applied dynamic excitations. We further show that such metamaterial architecture functions as both a mechanical sensor of input amplitude and a reconfigurable wave-control device. Together, these results highlight the versatility of bistable metamaterials as multifunctional platforms that integrate mechanical memory, sensing, and adaptive wave manipulation.