Swelling-Induced Origami

该奖项的研究目标是利用软机械结构的膨胀引起的变形来动态塑造材料。能够以折纸方式弯曲和折叠的自适应结构为可展开结构、软机械臂、机械传感器和三维弹性体的快速成型提供了先进的工程机会。膨胀是一种强有力的结构变化方法，因为它在潮湿的环境中自然发生，并且很容易适应工业设计。根据该奖项进行的研究将确定材料定义的长度标尺，这些标尺指示膨胀结构的机械响应。膨胀-结构相互作用将与适当的材料相结合，以可控制地将结构变形成所需的形状。可聚合溶胀材料的加入将使这些复杂的形状得到永久固定，从而控制许多长度尺度上的结构形态。一项成功的研究将对分层制造产生广泛的影响。从这些工作中获得的知识将进一步加深对瞬时膨胀引起的变形的基本力学理解，同时开发出一种三维软结构永久变形的方法。这项研究将支持一个强大的，创造性的博士候选人，以及学术驱动的本科生研究人员的参与。除了对大学教育产生影响外，该项目还将开发一个创新项目，向当地高中生介绍机械驱动现象。该项目将使用高速摄影向学生展示快速发展的科学世界，并使用这项技术来研究牛顿运动定律。

The research objective of this award is to utilize the swelling-induced deformations of soft mechanical structures to dynamically shape materials. Adaptive structures that can bend and fold in an origami-like manner provide advanced engineering opportunities for deployable structures, soft robotic arms, mechanical sensors, and rapid-prototyping of 3D elastomers. Swelling is a robust approach to structural change as it occurs naturally in humid environments, and can easily be adapted into industrial design. Studies conducted under this award will identify the materials-defined length scales that dictate the mechanical response of a swelling structure. The swelling-structure interactions will be coupled with appropriate materials to controllably morph structures into a desired shape. The incorporation of polymerizable swelling materials will allow these complex shapes to be permanently fixed, thereby controlling the morphology of structures across many length scales. A successful study will have broad implications for hierarchical manufacturing. The knowledge gained from these efforts will further the fundamental mechanical understanding of transient swelling-induced deformations, while developing a methodology for the permanent morphing of three-dimensional soft structures. This research will support the involvement of a strong, creative Ph.D. candidate, as well as academically driven undergraduate researchers. In addition to impacting education at the university level, this project will develop an innovative program to introduce local high school students to mechanics-driven phenomena. The program will use high-speed photography to show students the world of fast-moving science, and use this technology to study Newton's laws of motion.