Stochastic optimization of a mass-in-mass cell with piecewise hybrid nonlinear–linear restoring force

This article investigates the optimization under uncertainty of a mass-in-mass meta-cell for its potential use within a metamaterial. The specificity of the proposed mass-in-mass system stems from the hybrid nonlinear–linear stiffness at the inner level. It is well known that these systems are highly sensitivity to small perturbations in loading conditions or design parameters. In fact, the sensitivity is such that the system can exhibit discontinuous behaviors. Therefore the proposed optimization approach not only accounts for sources of uncertainties but also can handle discontinuous responses. The objective of the stochastic optimization is to find the stiffness properties of the mass-in-mass system which minimize the expected value of a specific efficiency metric. In order to better understand the system’s dynamic behavior and the origins of the discontinuities, slow invariant manifolds and frequency response curves are provided. The efficiency of the optimized system with hybrid stiffness is compared with that of a similar optimized system featuring pure cubic nonlinearity.