Emetanode : electromechanical friction-induced metamaterial node for broadband vibration attenuation and self-powered sensing

Abstract

Recent advances in mechanical metamaterials and piezoelectric energy harvesting provide exciting opportunities for directing and converting mechanical energy in electromechanical systems for autonomous sensing and vibration control. However, practical realizations remain rare due to the lack of advanced modeling methods and persistent interdisciplinary barriers. By integrating mechanical metamaterials with power electronics-based interface circuits, this paper achieves a breakthrough by presenting an electromechanical friction-induced metamaterial node, which simultaneously enables self-powered sensing and broadband vibration attenuation. To support this, we introduce a reduced-order modeling framework combined with a numerical harmonic balance method tailored for nonlinear metamaterials. This approach efficiently captures local nonlinearities arising from electromechanical coupling through interface circuits, substantially improving computational efficiency. A key innovation of this work is that it uncovers the role of electromechanical friction, induced by synchronized switching interface circuits, which facilitates energy harvesting and enhanced nonlinear dynamic behavior–manifested through expanded bandgaps and higher-harmonic vibration attenuation. Experimentally, an electromechanical metamaterial node is realized for self-powered sensing of temperature and acceleration data, demonstrating strong potential for structural health monitoring and Internet of Things applications. This study provides a practical pathway toward digitizing structures and systems by uniting smart interface circuitry with mechanical metamaterials to achieve autonomous, energy-aware sensing and control.