NextGen Materials 2025: The Convergence of Living Essence and Engineered Innovation
Lecture
23.09.2025 (CEST)
Anisotropic Shape-Morphing Mechanical Metamaterials with Expandable Unit Cells
NG

Dr.-Ing. Naeim Ghavidelnia

Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoffmechanik IWM

Ghavidelnia, N. (Speaker)¹; Eberl, C.²
¹University of Freiburg; ²University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg
Vorschau
23 Min. Untertitel (CC)

Mechanical metamaterials are a revolutionary class of engineered structures that offer controlled mechanical responses through carefully designed unit cells. Among different types of mechanical metamaterials, shape-morphing metamaterials play a crucial role in applications requiring adaptive and reconfigurable structures, such as soft robotics, deployable systems, and biomedical devices. Inflatable metamaterial structures, in particular, have demonstrated promising shape-changing effects, making them valuable for dynamic applications. A major challenge in this field is the development of generic unit cells that enable various deformation modes, including shear, bending, elongation, and contraction, purely through geometric design. To address this, our research focuses on the creation of new 3D unit cells utilizing chirality effects and curved beam elements. By leveraging these geometries, we introduce anisotropic properties that allow independent deformations in different directions, providing enhanced control over shape morphing. Key design parameters, such as beam curvature and orientation, are strategically manipulated to achieve wide range of elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratios in different directions simultaneously, which are critical for smooth shape transitions. These tunable properties enable continuous and programmable shape changes from initial to final configurations without altering the unit cell size. Additionally, our approach allows for 3D programming of unit cells with smooth transitions between different curvature values, leading to pre-programmed shape morphing metamaterials. Unlike previous methods, such as kirigami-inspired inflatable metamaterials that rely solely on outer surface structures, our fully structured design enhances mechanical performance and deformation control. This advancement opens new possibilities for inflatable structures with improved stability and adaptive capabilities. this new design of 3D unit cells with independent anisotropic properties, paving the way for next-generation mechanical metamaterials with broad applications in soft robotics, deployable systems, and beyond.

Abstract

Abstract

Erwerben Sie einen Zugang, um dieses Dokument anzusehen.

Ähnliche Inhalte

© 2026