Shape-transforming Mechanical Metamaterials

刚性物体可以在不弯曲和伸展的情况下包裹球吗？平板能变成可以承受任何力的三维装置吗？这种3D形状可以被可逆地熨回到原来的板材上而不会损坏吗？在目前的材料中，我们找不到答案。相比之下，可以拉伸和折叠、打包和拆包以及大幅改变体积和形状的产品在各种应用中都被寻求。例如，可展开的太阳能电池板只是其中之一，但还有许多其他的电池板存在于不同的学科和长度范围内，都在追逐材料科学和工程的圣杯：“可以变形以在不同结构下工作的材料”。*这项研究计划的愿景是引入下一代材料，这种材料非常具有创新性，因为它能够自我变形，并能做目前的材料无法做到的事情。三条互补的轨道，通过理论、模拟和制造概念验证原型的实验相结合的方法，将在未来五年内展开，以产生一流的形状转化材料。与众不同的特征是它们的建筑，突出的是缝隙和毛孔的图案。这个项目的统一主题是，通过合理地设计它们的几何形状、镶嵌和整体建筑，我们将在单片材料中激发出前所未有的功能，使它们能够动态地改变其形状，并适当调整其功能以适应环境。这些能力将填补加拿大行业目前尚未满足的需求，生产储能系统、智能窗户、可伸缩电子产品和柔性显示屏、可穿戴设备、家具组装以及用于传感和成像的微型光学元件。推动该计划创新的动力是一项定义明确的计划，该计划由一群学生在未来五年团结一致地开展互补和相互关联的跟踪。毕业后，这些学生将获得建筑材料的多尺度力学、几何裁剪和结构优化方面的尖端知识，以及制造和测试这些材料的相关方法。这是一种专业知识的融合，加拿大行业目前正寻求解决长期存在的问题，如超高灵活性、包装和可重构性，以及跨学科追逐的无与伦比的功能。在该计划中培训的HQP将为物质创新铺平道路，并最终开启一个新的时代，这将有助于推动加拿大公司的形成，为加拿大带来新的就业机会和经济利润。**

Can a rigid objet wrap around a ball without bending and stretching? Can a flat sheet be transformed into a three-dimensional device that can take any force applied to it? And can this 3D shape be reversibly ironed back to the original sheet without damage? In current materials, we find no answer. In contrast, products that can stretch and fold, pack and unpack, as well as change drastically volume and shape are sought in a manifold of applications. Deployable solar panels, for example, are just one of them, but many others exist across disciplines and length scale, all chasing the Holy Grail of material science and engineering: “materials that can shape-transform to work in diverse configurations”. ******The vision of this research program is to introduce the next generation of materials, extremely innovative because capable to shape transform themselves and do what current ones cannot. Three complementary tracks, propelled through a combined approach of theory, simulations and experiments on fabricated proof-of-concept prototypes, will unfold in the next five years to generate first-class shape transforming materials. The distinctive trait is their architecture, which stands out as patterns of slits and pores. The unified motif of this program is that by rationally designing their geometry, tessellation and overall architecture, we will elicit unprecedented functionalities in monolithic materials, enabling them to dynamically transform their shape, and properly tune their function to adapt to the environment. These capabilities will fill unmet demands currently existing in the Canadian industry producing energy storage systems, smart windows, stretchable electronics and flexible display screens, wearable devices, furniture assembly, and miniaturized optics for sensing and imaging.******The empowering force that will drive this program to innovation is a well-defined plan with complementary and interrelated tracks carried out by a pool of students joining forces cohesively in the next five years. Upon graduation, these students will have received cutting-edge know-how in multiscale mechanics, geometry tailoring, and structural optimization of architected materials, along with the relevant means to fabricate and test them. This is a blend of expertise that it is highly sought in the Canadian industry currently looking to solve long-standing problems of superflexibility, packing and reconfigurability, unmatched functionalities chased across discipline. The HQP trained in this program will pave the way to and ultimately usher in a new era of material innovation that will contribute to propel the formation of Canadian companies, with new jobs and economic profits for Canada.**