Transition waves in a beam coupled to a bistable foundation with a symmetric energy landscape

Multistable metamaterials, capable of adopting multiple stable configurations, offer versatile control over the shape and mechanical properties of systems. Transition waves (TWs), which propagate spatially through state transitions, provide a promising mechanism for reconfiguring such materials. While TWs in systems with asymmetric energy landscapes propagate stably by transitioning from higher to lower energy states, they require additional energy input to reset the structure. This work explores a multistable system with a reconfigurable surface shape, comprising an elastic slender beam coupled to a foundation of bistable elements, each with a symmetric energy landscape. The symmetric landscape enables TWs with tunable speeds, energy, and propagation distances, which can be controlled by boundary impact speed. The stop position of the TW forms a stable domain wall, separating regions of the beam in distinct stable states. Leveraging the relationship between impact speed and propagation distance, we propose a dynamic strategy for reversible surface shape reconfiguration using sequential impulses to generate targeted configurations. The feasibility of this strategy for shape control of multistable systems has been confirmed experimentally, using buckled double-beams as bistable elements.