Development of efficient numerical tools for designing origami-based metamaterial.

Project description

Origami-inspired metamaterials allow new mechanical properties to be artificially engineered, simply by folding a flat sheet. This fascinating ability has led to a new generation of adaptive materials and devices, with novel mechanical behaviours including tunable and graded structural stiffness, programmable mechanical response, negative Poisson’s ratio, and multi-stability.

Numerical simulation of origami-inspired metamaterials remains highly challenging, as their performance is highly sensitive toi) the hinging method used in metamaterial fabrication; and ii) non-linear stiffness behaviours arising from compliant panel deformation during folding. The latter is particularly limiting for the latest-generation of curved-fold and kirigami-inspired metamaterials, which rely on elastic bending to achieve novel performance features.

This project proposes to develop and verify efficient numerical methods for origami-inspired metamaterials. The geometry preserving numerical model would be verified by fabrication and testing of these metamaterials. Finally, the developed numerical model and fabrication method would be applied to design a curved-crease metamaterial with optimum weight-specific elastic energy absorption attributes, and benchmark against current resilient materials including high-energy return foams and nanolattice metamaterials.

Outcomes

1) Develop an efficient geometry-preserving numerical modelling approach for origami-inspired metamaterials and compare against existing numerical simulation tools.

2) Fabricate and test the origami-inpsired metamaterials to validate the developed numerical modelling tool.

3) Apply the developed numerical model and fabrication method to design a curved-crease metamaterial with optimum weight-specific elastic energy absorption attributes, and benchmark against current resilient materials including high-energy return foams and nanolattice metamaterials.

Essential capabilities

Knowledge of structural mechanics and FEM.

Desireable capabilities

Knowledge of at least one programming language etc., Knowledge FE software like ABAQUS.

Expected qualifications (Course/Degrees etc.)

B.Tech. or Master’s Degree (M. Tech./M.E./MSR) in Civil/Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering or related areas.