Recently, non-local configurations have been proposed by adding beyond nearest neighbour couplings among elements in lattices to obtain roton-like dispersion relations and phase and group velocities with opposite signs. Even though the introduction of non-local elastic links in metamaterials has unlocked unprecedented possibilities, literature models and prototypes seem neither to provide criteria to compare local and non-local lattices nor to discuss any related rules governing the transition between the two configurations. A physically reasonable principle that monoatomic one-dimensional chains must obey to pass from single- to multi-connected systems is here proposed through a mass conservation law for elastic springs thereby introducing a suitable real dimensionless parameter
α
to tune stiffness distribution. Therefore, the dispersion relations as a function of
α
and of the
degree of non-locality
P
are derived analytically, demonstrating that the proposed principle can be rather interpreted as a general mechanical consistency condition to preserve proper dynamics, involving the spring-to-bead mass ratio. Finally, after discussing qualitative results and deriving some useful inequalities, numerical simulations and two-dimensional FFTs are performed for some paradigmatic examples to highlight key dynamics features exhibited by chains with finite length as the parameters
α
and
P
vary.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Current developments in elastic and acoustic metamaterials science (Part 2)’.
