Shape-transforming Mechanical Metamaterials

一个刚性的物体可以不弯曲和拉伸地缠绕在一个球上吗？一张平板能变成一个能承受任何力的三维装置吗？这种3D形状可以可逆地熨烫回原始板材而不会损坏吗？在目前的材料中，我们找不到答案。相比之下，在多种应用中寻求可以拉伸和折叠、包装和打开以及急剧改变体积和形状的产品。例如，可部署的太阳能电池板只是其中之一，但其他许多跨学科和长度规模存在，都在追逐材料科学和工程的圣杯：“可以变形以在不同配置中工作的材料”。** 该研究计划的愿景是引入下一代材料，非常创新，因为能够塑造自己，并做目前的人不能做的事情。三个互补的轨道，通过理论，模拟和实验相结合的方法对制造的概念验证原型的推动，将在未来五年内展开，以产生一流的形状转换材料。其独特的特征是它们的建筑，突出的裂缝和毛孔的模式。该计划的统一主题是，通过合理设计它们的几何形状，镶嵌和整体架构，我们将在整体材料中获得前所未有的功能，使它们能够动态地改变它们的形状，并适当地调整它们的功能以适应环境。这些能力将满足加拿大工业目前尚未满足的需求，这些工业生产储能系统、智能窗户、可拉伸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器件。将推动该计划创新的授权力量是一个明确的计划，由一群学生在未来五年内团结一致地进行互补和相互关联的轨道。毕业后，这些学生将获得多尺度力学，几何剪裁和建筑材料的结构优化方面的尖端技术，沿着相关的制造和测试方法。这是一个混合的专业知识，它是高度寻求在加拿大行业目前正在寻求解决长期存在的问题，超灵活性，包装和可重构性，无与伦比的功能追逐跨学科。在该计划中培训的HQP将为材料创新的新时代铺平道路并最终迎来新时代，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.**