Exploiting Functionally Graded Elastomeric Materials to Program Collapse and Mechanical Properties

The development of materials with periodic microstructures provides the means to tune mechanical properties via prescribed collapse mechanisms. As investigations give attention to tunable unit cell designs, questions arise regarding strategic ways to exploit built‐up materials to empower large, programmable control over properties and material functionality. The potential to rationally design functionally graded elastomeric materials to yield prescribed mechanical properties is demonstrated herein. Following computational and experimental studies of simplified unit cells and layers, the results inspire ways to exploit linear elastic network analogies to design built‐up and functionally graded materials. This approach exemplifies a streamlined means to create pre‐programmed properties on the basis of simple calculations related to measurements from fundamental material constituents. The results build a foundation for innovative approaches to newly leverage elastomeric materials with programmable collapse for myriad engineering applications.