Coupled lattice models with dipoles for magneto-mechanical metamaterials

Magneto-mechanical metamaterials are emerging smart materials whose mechanical response can be tailored by structure architecture and magnetic interactions. The latter provides additional freedom in the material design space and leads to novel behaviors due to its nonlocal nature. The enriched functionalities open new possibilities in various applications, such as actuators, waveguides, energy absorbers, and soft robots. However, the nonlinear and nonlocal coupling between elastic and magnetic forces poses a significant challenge in simulating these systems, further hindering theory-based rational design strategies. We develop a simple discrete simulation framework based on lattice spring models for a class of magneto-mechanical materials using the LAMMPS molecular dynamics software. We demonstrate its capabilities with a few examples in engineering involving large deformations driven by external magnetic actuation or long-range internal magnetic interactions.