Dynamic Architected Materials

Engineering mechanical systems whose dynamic functions are encoded in geometry, interfaces, and internal structural modes.

What do we do? 

At MOA Lab, we design architected materials whose dynamic properties arise from the organization of their internal structures. Rather than relying only on material composition, we use geometry, connectivity, structural hierarchy, and mechanical interactions as design variables.

Our research covers mechanical metamaterials, phononic crystals, granular systems, lattice structures, composite architectures, and three-dimensional periodic structures. By tailoring unit-cell geometry, contact interfaces, internal vibration modes, spatial grading, and material heterogeneity, we create structures with programmable dispersion, resonance, stiffness, and energy-transport characteristics.

We investigate how local deformation and internal structural modes interact with the collective motion of an entire system. This interaction provides a powerful route to controlling bandgaps, wave attenuation, energy localization, and impact transmission. Our approach combines theoretical mechanics, reduced-order modeling, finite-element analysis, fabrication, and experimental vibration measurements.

Why does it matter?

Conventional vibration-control systems often depend on soft materials, heavy attachments, or additional damping treatments. Although effective, these approaches can increase weight, reduce structural stiffness, and limit integration with load-bearing components.

Architected materials offer a fundamentally different strategy: dynamic functionality can be embedded directly into the structure. A mechanical component can therefore support loads while simultaneously filtering vibration, redistributing impact energy, or controlling elastic waves. This approach can lead to compact and lightweight systems for vibration and noise control, impact protection, mobility, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and multifunctional smart structures.

Representative Publications

1. Y. Jang, E. Kim, J. Yang, and J. Rho,“Sculpt wave propagation in 3D woodpile architecture through vibrational mode coupling,” Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing 224, 112112 (2025).

2. Y. Jang, E. Kim, J. Yang, and J. Rho, “Physics-informed discrete element modeling for the bandgap engineering of cylinder chains,” Applied Mathematical Modelling 125, 571–590 (2024).

3. J. Park, D. Lee, Y. Jang, A. Lee, and J. Rho, “Chiral trabeated metabeam for low-frequency multimode wave mitigation via dual-bandgap mechanism,” Communications Physics 5, 194 (2022). 

4. Y. Jang, D. Kim, B. Oh, E. Kim, and J. Rho, “Low-frequency broadband bandgaps through modal inertia engineering in 3D composite woodpile metamaterials,” (in preparation).

5. K. Kim*, K. J. Bae*, G. Kim*, Y. Jang, J. Yang, J. Yu, and E. Kim, “Efficiently tunable CFRP metamaterials via internal contact mechanism,” (submitted).