  In this work, the mechanical response oF an one-dimensional active solid --
defined as a network of active stochastic particles interacting by nonlinear
hard springs -- subject to an external deformation force, is numerically
studied and rationalized with a minimal model. It is found that an active solid
made of linear springs and subject to an external stress, presents an average
deformation which is independent of the system's activity. However, when the
active solid is made of nonlinear hard springs, the solid's average deformation
decreases with respect to a passive system under the same conditions, and as a
function of activity and rotational noise in the system. The latter result may
shed light on new ways to creating an active metamaterial, which could tune its
stiffness by moving either its activity or rotational noise.
