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Characterizing Dissipative Elastic Metamaterials Produced by Additive Manufacturing
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Phase-transforming mechanical metamaterials with dynamically controllable shape-locking performance.

Yiding Zhong1,2, Wei Tang1,2,3, Huxiu Xu1,2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.

National Science Review
|August 11, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

We developed novel phase-transforming mechanical metamaterials (PMMs) that combine customizable structures, reversible deformation, and shape-locking for soft robotics and flexible electronics. These PMMs offer a versatile platform for advanced applications.

Keywords:
active mechanical metamaterialsenergy storageliquid–vapor phase transformshape lockingsoft robotics

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Robotics
  • Mechanical Engineering

Background:

  • Active mechanical metamaterials offer desirable properties like customizable structures and deformations, but integrating these features for applications in soft robotics and flexible electronics is challenging due to conflicting requirements.
  • Existing materials struggle to simultaneously achieve active reversible deformation, controllable shape-locking, and stretchability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a new class of phase-transforming mechanical metamaterials (PMMs) that integrate customizable structures, active reversible deformation, dynamically controllable shape-locking, and stretchability.
  • To demonstrate the versatility of PMMs for diverse applications in soft robotics and flexible electronics.

Main Methods:

  • Designing and fabricating PMMs by periodically arranging basic actuating units in specific patterns.
  • Utilizing liquid-vapor phase transformation for large, reversible deformations and a silicone matrix for stretchability.
  • Incorporating carbonyl iron powder for magnetically assisted shape-locking and energy storage.

Main Results:

  • PMMs successfully integrate customizable structures, active reversible deformation, rapid reversible shape locking, adjustable energy storage, and stretchability.
  • Theoretical modeling and finite element simulations guided the design of PMMs with tailored functions.
  • Demonstrated applications include programmed PMMs, reconfigurable antennas, soft lenses, mechanical memory, biomimetic hands, flytraps, and soft grippers capable of 2D and 2D-to-3D deformations.

Conclusions:

  • Phase-transforming mechanical metamaterials (PMMs) offer a promising solution for overcoming the integration challenges in active mechanical metamaterials.
  • The developed PMMs provide a versatile platform with multiple integrated properties, opening new avenues for soft robotics and flexible electronics.