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  • Open Access

Cracking Down on Fracture to Functionalize Damage

Leo de Waal, Matthaios Chouzouris, and Marcelo A. Dias*

  • Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

  • *Contact author: mdias@ed.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 148202 – Published 3 October, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/s28l-zbpz

Abstract

In this Letter we propose a novel relationship between topology and damage propagation in Maxwell lattices that redefines fracture as a functional design feature rather than mere degradation. We demonstrate that topologically protected modes, inherently robust against perturbations, localize along lattice discontinuities and govern the mechanical response. By precisely engineering the microstructure, we direct these modes to control stress distributions and trigger predictable, controlled damage. Our findings, validated through comprehensive numerical simulations and experiments, advance our understanding of nontrivial mechanical responses in Maxwell lattices and establish a clear framework for designing materials with improved fracture energy. This Letter paves the way for further exploration of topology-driven phenomena in mechanical systems and promises a new direction in the design of robust materials.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 148202– Published 3 October, 2025
  • Received 27 March 2025
  • Accepted 12 September 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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