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Programming 3D curved mesosurfaces using microlattice designs
Xu Cheng1,2, Zhichao Fan1,2,3, Shenglian Yao4
1Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 23, 2023
Summary
Scientists developed a new microlattice design to program 2D films into 3D curved surfaces using mechanical assembly. This breakthrough enables the creation of complex shapes for advanced applications like medical devices and robotics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Biomimicry
Background:
- Natural cellular microstructures in organisms create complex 3D shapes for essential functions.
- Replicating this 3D shape formation in artificial systems using cellular designs remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for programming 2D films into programmable 3D curved mesosurfaces.
- To enable the creation of complex, bio-inspired 3D structures for advanced applications.
Main Methods:
- A rational microlattice design approach was employed.
- Mechanically guided assembly was used to transform 2D films into 3D structures.
- Analytical modeling and machine learning computational approaches were utilized for shape programming.
Main Results:
- Successfully transformed 2D films into programmable 3D curved mesosurfaces.
- Demonstrated the ability to program heterogeneous 2D microlattice patterns for specific 3D shapes.
- Presented approximately 30 diverse geometries, including regular and biological mesosurfaces.
Conclusions:
- The developed microlattice design and assembly method offer a novel pathway for creating programmable 3D curved mesosurfaces.
- This approach has potential applications in conformable electronics, actuators, and scaffolds for tissue engineering.
