Nonreciprocity and topologically protected wave propagation have significant implications on how energy and information are transmitted or guided within materials to control or mitigate its effects. The major challenge in tailoring interface mode arises from challenges related to the customizability and linearity of interface lattice, moreover, there is a scarce of experimental analysis reported in the literature. Our study has focused on obtaining topologically protected nontrivial interface modes at a specific frequency by breaking the inversion symmetry through novel hourglass metastructure both theoretically and experimentally. Detailed work on wave transmission, dispersion, and bandgap analysis are carried out considering topological metamaterials. New cellular configurations based on regular honeycomb and auxetic cells, and variations of their geometric parameters responsible for interface mode tuning are reported here. A generalized theoretical scheme for different combinations of the hourglass lattice is derived at the interface, and consequent energy harvesting and damping prospects are reported. Analytical modeling of topological metamaterial lattice along with numerical simulation, additive layer manufacturing (3D printing), and finally experimental validations are carried out to justify the behavior and reveal the underlying physics responsible for its unique behavior. Three types of configurations including hourglass lattice at the interface define a general framework for introducing lattice-based imperfections in the continuous elastic structure for potential engineering applications. The localized topological interface mode obtained within the bandgap can be tuned significantly with the help of latticed hourglass and may be utilized for the purpose of wave guiding, wave focusing, and energy harvesting within the isolation zone.

This study reports the presence of an interface mode in the one-dimensional topologically arranged mechanical metamaterials using mechanical dome shaped metastructures which can be exhibited by hourglass configurations. The paper proposes the method of obtaining a localized interface mode within the bandgap using the hourglass shaped resonating elements in the one dimensional topologically arranged chain. Implementing a wide range of different re-entrant angles on the patterns imprinted on dome shaped hourglass metastructure ranging from negative to positive re-entrant angle would lead to lattice dependent stiffness characteristics in the system. The primary unit cell considered in this system is diatomic unit cell having identical masses and alternating spring stiffness driven by the dome shaped hourglass metastructure. Moreover, the variation in the stiffness of hourglass metastructure is also dependent on the height to thickness ratio which is also explored in this study to restrict the stiffness of hourglass unit in the linear regime which is easily obtainable in small deformation range. The interface unit cell is placed in the one-dimensional chain in such a way that inversion symmetry is broken using the different classes of hourglass lattice metastructures within the unit cell. The frequency response function of the one dimensional topologically protected chain is analytically computed and the interface mode is observed locally within the bandgap. The possibility of wave propagation at specific frequencies within the bandgaps is strategically achieved by defining lattice-dependent stiffness parameters at the interface modes. The considered configurations define a framework for introducing lattice-based imperfections in the continuous elastic structures that makes it potential engineering relevance.