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Updated: Sep 2, 2025

A Millimeter Scale Flexural Testing System for Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Marine Sponge Spicules
Published on: October 11, 2017
Deformation and mechanics of a pulvinus-inspired material
Loïc Tadrist1, Younes Mammadi1, Julien Diperi1
1Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, ISM, Marseille, France.
Abstract:
Mimosa pudicarapidly folds leaves when touched. Motion is created by pulvini, 'the plant muscles' that allow plants to produce various complex motions. Plants rely on local control of the turgor pressure to create on-demand motion. In this paper, the mechanics of a cellular material inspired from pulvinus ofM. pudicais studied. First, the manufacturing process of a cell-controllable material is described. Its deformation behaviour when pressured is tested, focusing on three pressure patterns of reference. The deformations are modelled based on the minimisation of elastic energy framework. Depending on pressurisation pattern and magnitude, reversible buckling-induced motion may occur.
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