Mechanical meta-materials

A method of varying stiffness using a meta-material that comprises a deformable structure and a set of activation elements coupled to the deformable structure, the method comprising:

• activating at least one activation element from a first activation state to a second activation state,
• wherein the at least one activation element includes a modulus of elasticity greater than that of the deformable structure,
• wherein the second activation state includes an electrostatic clamp that prevents relative motion in the deformable or reconfigurable structure, between two activation elements that are both mechanically coupled to the deformable or reconfigurable structure and that are participating in the electrostatic clamp, up to a friction force caused by an electrostatic force exerted between the two activation elements participating in the electrostatic clamp, wherein the meta-material includes a first stiffness when the at least one activation element is in the first activation state and the meta-material includes a second stiffness when the at least one activation element has been activated to the second activation state, and wherein the third stiffness causes an object that includes the meta-material to avoid a resonance frequency for an object that would be met without the stiffness change.