Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2025

4D Printed Bifurcated Stents with Kirigami-Inspired Structures
Published on: July 25, 2019
Shape and topology morphing of closed surfaces integrating origami and kirigami
Xiangxin Dang1, Shujia Chen1, Ali Elias Acha1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2K6, Canada.
Abstract:
A closed surface is generally more resistant to deformation and shape changes than an open surface. An empty closed box, for example, is stiffer and more stable than when it is open. The presence of an opening makes it less constrained, more deformable, and easier to morph, as demonstrated by several studies on open-surface morphing across patterns, materials, and scales. Here, we present a platform to morph closed surfaces with bistability that harnesses a balanced integration of origami and kirigami principles. By harmonizing panel rotation around creases nearly tangent to the closed surface and panel rotation around hinges nearly perpendicular to the closed surface, we show that origami-kirigami assemblages can shape-morph between a cube and a sphere, scale between spheres of dissimilar size, and change topology between a sphere and a torus, with programmed bistability. The framework offers a promising strategy for designing bistable reconfigurable structures and metamaterials with enclosed configurations.
Related Concept Videos
Plastic Deformations of Members with a Single Plane of Symmetry
Bending of Curved Members - Neutral Surface
Consider the curved member described in the previous lesson. According to Hooke's law, which relates stress to strain within...
Deformations in a Symmetric Member in Bending
When the member is segmented into tiny cubic elements, it is observed that the primary stress...
Deformations in a Transverse Cross Section
As the material stretches, it expands or contracts in orthogonal directions to the load. This phenomenon varies...
Unsymmetric Bending
Bending of Members Made of Several Materials
Hooke's Law determines stress in each material, stating that stress is proportional to strain but varies due to each...

