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  • Open Access

Programming stability and stiffness in two-dimensional multistable structures

M. Bonthron, T. Pierce, and E. Tubaldi*

  • *Contact author: etubaldi@umd.edu
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033084 – Published 21 July, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/z2s6-trnj

Abstract

Multistable structures can reconfigure and passively maintain their geometry, enabling adaptive materials with tunable properties and performance tailored to changes in conditions. This work presents a theoretical and an experimental framework for designing and analyzing two-dimensional multistable structures composed of interconnected elastically buckled beams in different arrangements. First, we develop an analytical model and use numerical continuation to identify stable and unstable equilibrium configurations. Then, experimental samples validate the analytically predicted stable states, yielding structures with asymmetric energy potentials and reconfigurable effective stiffness. This approach provides a foundation for programmable, modular mechanical metamaterials assembled from bistable building blocks.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033084– Published 21 July, 2026
  • Received 18 February 2026
  • Accepted 22 June 2026
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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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