Feasibility study of kinks propagation in electro-mechanical lattices

We introduce an architecture and an actuating scenario of an electromechanical bistable micro lattice supporting the propagation of localized waves – solitons and kinks – and realizable using common microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The lattice comprises two arrays of structural elements that interact via electrostatic forces, with a tailored nonlinearity induced by fringing fields. The dynamics of the lattice are governed by a discrete analog of two coupled nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations. We propose a new wave-launching scenario and demonstrate, using the model, that by properly imposing time-dependent boundary conditions, kinks can be generated in the finite-length lattice with realistic, manufacturable geometric parameters and at a reasonably low actuation voltage. Results of the case study suggest that the proposed architecture, when combined with careful design, is robust to microfabrication-related geometric nonuniformity and can be realized in practice. The proposed device can serve as a convenient experimental platform for investigating localized waves in discrete media, or can be implemented as a transmission line in future mechanical intelligent systems.