Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium
A zero mode, or floppy mode, is a nontrivial coupling of mechanical components yielding a degree of freedom with no resistance to deformation. Engineered zero modes have the potential to act as microscopic motors or memory devices, but this requires an internal actuation mechanism that can overcome...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Physical Society
2018
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118929 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7799-3368 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8865-2369 |
| _version_ | 1826217994143924224 |
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| author | Woodhouse, Francis G. Ronellenfitsch, Henrik Michael Dunkel, Joern |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics Woodhouse, Francis G. Ronellenfitsch, Henrik Michael Dunkel, Joern |
| author_sort | Woodhouse, Francis G. |
| collection | MIT |
| description | A zero mode, or floppy mode, is a nontrivial coupling of mechanical components yielding a degree of freedom with no resistance to deformation. Engineered zero modes have the potential to act as microscopic motors or memory devices, but this requires an internal actuation mechanism that can overcome unwanted fluctuations in other modes and the dissipation inherent in real systems. In this Letter, we show theoretically and experimentally that complex zero modes in mechanical networks can be selectively mobilized by nonequilibrium activity. We find that a correlated active bath actuates an infinitesimal zero mode while simultaneously suppressing fluctuations in higher modes compared to thermal fluctuations, which we experimentally mimic by high frequency shaking of a physical network. Furthermore, self-propulsive dynamics spontaneously mobilize finite mechanisms as exemplified by a self-propelled topological soliton. Nonequilibrium activity thus enables autonomous actuation of coordinated mechanisms engineered through network topology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T17:12:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/118929 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T17:12:27Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1189292022-09-30T00:24:56Z Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium Woodhouse, Francis G. Ronellenfitsch, Henrik Michael Dunkel, Joern Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics Ronellenfitsch, Henrik Michael Dunkel, Joern A zero mode, or floppy mode, is a nontrivial coupling of mechanical components yielding a degree of freedom with no resistance to deformation. Engineered zero modes have the potential to act as microscopic motors or memory devices, but this requires an internal actuation mechanism that can overcome unwanted fluctuations in other modes and the dissipation inherent in real systems. In this Letter, we show theoretically and experimentally that complex zero modes in mechanical networks can be selectively mobilized by nonequilibrium activity. We find that a correlated active bath actuates an infinitesimal zero mode while simultaneously suppressing fluctuations in higher modes compared to thermal fluctuations, which we experimentally mimic by high frequency shaking of a physical network. Furthermore, self-propulsive dynamics spontaneously mobilize finite mechanisms as exemplified by a self-propelled topological soliton. Nonequilibrium activity thus enables autonomous actuation of coordinated mechanisms engineered through network topology. 2018-11-06T18:33:15Z 2018-11-06T18:33:15Z 2018-10 2018-09 2018-10-23T18:00:30Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0031-9007 1079-7114 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118929 Woodhouse, Francis G., et al. “Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium.” Physical Review Letters, vol. 121, no. 17, Oct. 2018. © 2018 American Physical Society https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7799-3368 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8865-2369 en http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.178001 Physical Review Letters Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. American Physical Society application/pdf American Physical Society American Physical Society |
| spellingShingle | Woodhouse, Francis G. Ronellenfitsch, Henrik Michael Dunkel, Joern Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium |
| title | Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium |
| title_full | Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium |
| title_fullStr | Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium |
| title_short | Autonomous Actuation of Zero Modes in Mechanical Networks Far from Equilibrium |
| title_sort | autonomous actuation of zero modes in mechanical networks far from equilibrium |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118929 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7799-3368 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8865-2369 |
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