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Crumpling of thin sheets as a basis for creating mechanical metamaterials
M C Fokker1, S Janbaz1, A A Zadpoor1
1Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology Mekelweg 2 Delft 2628CD The Netherlands marike.fokker@gmail.com.
RSC Advances
|May 6, 2022
Summary
Crumpled thin sheets offer tunable mechanical properties and unique material combinations by adjusting compaction. This physics-based approach enables novel disordered mechanical metamaterials.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Mechanics
Background:
- Crumpled thin sheets possess high strength-to-volume ratios.
- Their properties are highly tunable via compaction.
- Surface functionalization is possible before crumpling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the physics of crumpled thin sheets.
- To explore crumpling mechanics, methods, and mechanical behavior.
- To highlight applications in tunable materials and metamaterials.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on crumpled thin sheets.
- Analysis of the relationship between compaction ratio and material properties.
- Discussion of surface treatment possibilities on flat precursors.
Main Results:
- Physical and mechanical properties are strongly dependent on the compaction ratio.
- Unusual material property combinations can be achieved.
- Crumpling allows for creating disordered mechanical metamaterials.
Conclusions:
- The compaction ratio is a key parameter for tailoring properties of crumpled sheets.
- Crumpling thin sheets offers a pathway to novel disordered mechanical metamaterials.
- This technique allows for unique material combinations and enhanced imperfection tolerance.

