Work

Training allostery-inspired mechanical response in disordered elastic networks

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Disordered elastic networks are a model material system in which it is possible to achieve tunable and trainable functions. This work investigates the modification of local mechanical properties in disordered networks inspired by allosteric interactions in proteins: applying strain locally to a set of source nodes triggers a strain response at a distant set of target nodes. This is demonstrated first by using directed aging to modify the existing mechanical coupling between pairs of distant source and target nodes, and later as a means for inducing coupling between formerly isolated source-target pairs. The experimental results are compared with those predicted by simulations.

Source: Soft Matter

DOI: 10.1039/d4sm01340a

Author: Savannah D. Gowen

Institution: University of Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Materials and Mechanics

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: National Science Foundation, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, Division of Materials Research

Awards: Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, G4013568811, G4657484576