A Comparative Analysis of Energy Localization in Weakly Coupled Mechanical Lattices

Energy localization in discrete mechanical lattices has long been an area of interest due to its relevance in metamaterials, vibration isolation structures, and nonlinear waveguides. In this study, we investigate how weak coupling and mild geometric nonlinearity influence the formation of localized vibrational modes in a one-dimensional lattice of identical masses. Using a combination of experimental measurements and numerical simulations, we demonstrate that weak inter-mass stiffness promotes the spontaneous emergence of breather-like oscillations when the system is excited above a critical amplitude. Our results clarify the conditions under which energy remains confined to a small subset of lattice sites rather than spreading diffusively across the chain. These findings may assist in the design of low-loss waveguiding structures and tunable mechanical filters.