Swelling-Induced Origami

本奖项的研究目标是利用软机械结构的膨胀变形来动态塑造材料。自适应结构可以像折纸一样弯曲和折叠，为可展开结构、柔性机械臂、机械传感器和3D弹性体的快速原型制造提供了先进的工程机会。膨胀是一种强大的结构变化方法，因为它在潮湿环境中自然发生，并且可以很容易地适应工业设计。根据该合同进行的研究将确定材料定义的长度尺度，该尺度决定了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，以控制结构变形成所需的形状。可聚合膨胀材料的结合将使这些复杂的形状永久固定，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。从这些努力中获得的知识将进一步加深对瞬态膨胀引起的变形的基本力学理解，同时为三维软结构的永久变形开发一种方法。这项研究将支持一个强大的，有创造力的博士候选人的参与，以及学术驱动的本科研究人员。除了影响大学水平的教育外，该项目还将开发一个创新项目，向当地高中生介绍力学驱动的现象。该项目将使用高速摄影向学生展示快速发展的科学世界，并利用这项技术研究牛顿运动定律。

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.