Parrot Beak-Inspired Metamaterials with Friction and Interlocking Mechanisms 3D/4D Printed in Micro and Macro Scales for Supreme Energy Absorption/Dissipation

Energy absorption and dissipation features of mechanical metamaterials have widespread applications in everyday life, ranging from absorbing shock impacts to mechanical vibrations. This article proposes novel bioinspired friction-based mechanical metamaterials with a zero Poisson's ratio behavior inspired from parrot's beaks and manufactured additively. The mechanical performances of the corresponding metamaterials are studied at both macro and micro scales by experiments and finite element analysis (FEA). An excellent agreement is observed between the FEA and both microscopic and macroscopic scale experiments, showing the accuracy of the developed digital tool. Performances are compared to traditional triangular lattice metamaterials. Both experimental tests and FEA results demonstrate the following advantages: 1) absorbing and dissipating energy per unit of mass (SEA) at large compressive strains without global buckling; 2) bistable deformation patterns including friction-based and interlocking mechanisms; 3) reversible deformation patterns after unloading; 4) shape recovery behavior after a heating–cooling process; and 5) the higher elastic modulus of micro metamaterials compared with their macro counterparts. This is the first demonstration of a bioinspired friction-based design of 3D-printed mechanical metamaterials that feature absorbing/dissipating energy, stability, and reversibility properties to cater to a wide range of sustainable meta-cylinders in micro and macro scales.