Functional flexibility: The potential of morphing composites

Jones, Mitchell P.; Murali, Gokul G.; Laurin, Frédéric; Robinson, P.; Bismarck, Alexander

doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2022.109792

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 191 publications

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“…The unique capability of 4D-printed components to adapt their form and function in response to these environmental changes promises to significantly enhance performance and efficiency. For example, the development of aircraft wings or airfoils that can dynamically alter their shape in response to aerodynamic conditions has the potential to revolutionize aircraft design, leading to improvements in fuel efficiency and maneuverability [17][18][19][20]. Moreover, the integration of self-healing materials in 4D printing processes can greatly increase the durability of aerospace components.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape Morphing of 4D-Printed Polylactic Acid Structures under Thermal Stimuli: An Experimental and Finite Element Analysis

Kostopoulos,

Stamoulis,

Lappas

et al. 2024

Aerospace

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This study explores the shape-morphing behavior of 4D-printed structures made from Polylactic Acid (PLA), a prominent bio-sourced shape-memory polymer. Focusing on the response of these structures to thermal stimuli, this research investigates how various printing parameters influence their morphing capabilities. The experimental approach integrates design and slicing, printing using fused deposition modeling (FDM), and a post-printing activation phase in a controlled laboratory environment. This process aims to replicate the external stimuli that induce shape morphing, highlighting the dynamic potential of 4D printing. Utilizing Taguchi’s Design of Experiments (DoE), this study examines the effects of printing speed, layer height, layer width, nozzle temperature, bed temperature, and activation temperature on the morphing behavior. The analysis includes precise measurements of deformation parameters, providing a comprehensive understanding of the morphing process. Regression models demonstrate strong correlations with observed data, suggesting their effectiveness in predicting responses based on control parameters. Additionally, finite element analysis (FEA) modeling successfully predicts the performance of these structures, validating its application as a design tool in 4D printing. This research contributes to the understanding of 4D printing dynamics and offers insights for optimizing printing processes to harness the full potential of shape-morphing materials. It sets a foundation for future research, particularly in exploring the relationship between printing parameters and the functional capabilities of 4D-printed structures.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shape Morphing of 4D-Printed Polylactic Acid Structures under Thermal Stimuli: An Experimental and Finite Element Analysis

Kostopoulos,

Stamoulis,

Lappas

et al. 2024

Aerospace

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“…The deformation function of the morphing wing flexible skin can be realized in three main ways [12]: the deformation of the elastic material itself [13], the sliding or rotating deformation of the mechanism, and the large deformation of the sandwich composite structure. A hybrid material flexible skin of a Kevlar/carbon-fiber-reinforced silica gel matrix for a shear swept morphing wing was proposed by Yu et al [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluid–Structure Coupling and Aerodynamic Performance of a Multi-Dimensional Morphing Wing with Flexible Metastructure Skin

Yang,

Jiang,

Wang

et al. 2023

Aerospace

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A multi-dimensional morphing wing skeleton mechanism is proposed with double-sided triangular pyramid units, which can realize continuous variable span-wise bend, span-wise twist, and sweep. A lockable morphing unit is designed, and its mechanism/structure characteristics, degree of freedom, and the deformable function of its deformable wing skeleton mechanism are analyzed. One kind of flexible skin is proposed to meet the performance requirements, consisting of an internal metastructure and a flexible surface bonded on both sides. The morphing wing skeleton mechanism and the equivalent treated metastructure flexible skin are then combined. Subsequently, a two-way fluid–structure interaction analysis is conducted to investigate the influence of aerodynamic loads on the flexible skin and skeleton mechanism in different deformation states, including the influence of structural passive deformation on the aerodynamic characteristics of the morphing wing. The computational fluid dynamics method is employed to analyze the aerodynamic characteristics of the morphing wing in its initial state, as well as in three deformation states, and to study its aerodynamic performance in different flight environments.

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Bioinspired 4D Printed Tubular/Helicoidal Shape Changing Metacomposites for Programmable Structural Morphing

Le Duigou,

Grabow,

Scarpa

et al. 2024

Adv Materials Technologies

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Biological structures combine passive shape‐changing with force generation through intricate composite architectures. Natural fibers, with their tubular‐like structures and responsive components, have inspired the design of pneumatic tubular soft composite actuators. However, no development of passive structural actuation is available despite the recent rise of 4D printing. In this study, a biomimicry approach is proposed with inspiration from natural fiber architecture to create a novel concept of thermally active 4D printed tubular metacomposites. These metacomposites exhibit high mechanical performance and 3D‐to‐3D shape‐changing ability triggered by changes in temperature. A rotative printer is proposed for winding a continuous carbon fibers reinforced PolyAmide 6.I composite on a PolyAmide 6.6 polymer mandrel in a similar manner to the structure of cellulose microfibrils within the polysaccharide matrix of natural fiber cell‐walls. The resulting 4D printed tubular metacomposites exhibit programmable rotation and torque in response to thermal variations thanks to the control of their mesostructure and the overall geometry. Energy density values representing a trade‐off between the rotation and the torque are comparable to shape memory alloys when normalized by stiffness. Finally, a proof of concept for an autonomous solar tracker is presented, showcasing its potential for designing autonomous assemblies for structure morphing.

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Functional flexibility: The potential of morphing composites

Cited by 8 publications

References 191 publications

Shape Morphing of 4D-Printed Polylactic Acid Structures under Thermal Stimuli: An Experimental and Finite Element Analysis

Shape Morphing of 4D-Printed Polylactic Acid Structures under Thermal Stimuli: An Experimental and Finite Element Analysis

Fluid–Structure Coupling and Aerodynamic Performance of a Multi-Dimensional Morphing Wing with Flexible Metastructure Skin

Bioinspired 4D Printed Tubular/Helicoidal Shape Changing Metacomposites for Programmable Structural Morphing

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