Mechanical metamaterials as an energy shield

A metamaterial system for protecting a payload from external energy flux generated by an energy source, wherein the external energy flux is a mechanical vibration, the metamaterial system comprising:

• a mechanical, metamaterial framework configured to circulate the external energy flux between the metamaterial system and the energy source, wherein the framework includes a unit cell having a plurality of outer inelastic elements pivotally coupled to one another at pivot points, wherein the plurality of outer inelastic elements define an outer periphery of the unit cell, wherein the framework additionally includes a plurality of inner inelastic elements, wherein each of the inner inelastic elements includes a first end coupled to one of the pivot points and a second end spaced inwardly from the one of the pivot points, wherein the framework additionally includes a first elastic element coupled to and extending between two of the pivot points, and a second elastic element coupled to and extending between two of the second ends, wherein the first elastic element extends parallel to the second elastic element.