Digital synthesis of free-form multimaterial structures for realization of arbitrary programmed mechanical responses

Weichen Li, Fengwen Wang, Ole Sigmund, Xiaojia Shelly Zhang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

SignificanceCreating structures to realize function-oriented mechanical responses is desired for many applications. Yet, the use of a single material phase and heuristics-based designs may fail to attain specific target behaviors. Here, through a deterministic algorithmic procedure, multiple materials with dissimilar properties are intelligently synthesized into composite structures to achieve arbitrary prescribed responses. Created structures possess unconventional geometry and seamless integration of multiple materials. Despite geometric complexity and varied material phases, these structures are fabricated by multimaterial manufacturing, and tested to demonstrate that wide-ranging nonlinear responses are physically and accurately realized. Upon heteroassembly, resulting structures provide architectures that exhibit highly complex yet navigable responses. The proposed strategy can benefit the design of function-oriented nonlinear mechanical devices, such as actuators and energy absorbers.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2120563119
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume119
Issue number10
Number of pages8
ISSN0027-8424
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Programmable complex mechanical response
  • Multimaterial fabrication
  • Digital synthesis
  • Large deformation
  • Topology optimization

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