Complex sequential deformation using bistable mechanisms in series

Recent advancements in mechanical computing have facilitated the development of intelligent matter capable of sensing, processing, and adapting to environmental stimuli. Using mechanically abstracted bits, mechanological systems can perform digital logic operations based on the physical configuration of multimodal materials. Yet, many embodiments of mechanical logic are limited by the need to manually operate material systems to enter a desired configuration. Here, a framework is presented to design multistable material systems that can enter a programmable sequence of digital states through monotonically increasing shear input. By taking advantage of interactions between serial bistable mechanisms, mechanical bits can be deterministically activated and reset through simple displacement-controlled loading. The bistable units used in this work take advantage of two discrete self-contact regions that allow for highly tunable activation and snap-through behaviors. Using the mathematical model for a single unit, the principle of minimum total potential energy can be employed to determine the behavior of the multistability of a material system with bistable units in series.