59 research outputs found
Architected lattices for simultaneous broadband attenuation of airborne sound and mechanical vibrations in all directions
Phononic crystals and acoustic metamaterials are architected lattices
designed to control the propagation of acoustic or elastic waves. In these
materials, the dispersion properties and the energy transfer are controlled by
selecting the lattices' geometry and their constitutive material properties.
Most designs, however, only affect one mode of energy propagation, transmitted
either as acoustic, airborne sound or as elastic, structural vibrations. Here,
we present a design methodology to attenuate both acoustic and elastic waves
simultaneously in all polarizations. We experimentally realize the first
three-dimensional, load bearing, architected lattice, composed of a
single-material, that responds in a broadband frequency range in all
directions
Autonomous Deployment of a Solar Panel Using an Elastic Origami and Distributed Shape Memory Polymer Actuators
Deployable mechanical systems such as space solar panels rely on the
intricate stowage of passive modules, and sophisticated deployment using a
network of motorized actuators. As a result, a significant portion of the
stowed mass and volume are occupied by these support systems. An autonomous
solar panel array deployed using the inherent material behavior remains
elusive. In this work, we develop an autonomous self-deploying solar panel
array that is programmed to activate in response to changes in the surrounding
temperature. We study an elastic "flasher" origami sheet embedded in a circle
of scissor mechanisms, both printed with shape memory polymers. The scissor
mechanisms are optimized to provide the maximum expansion ratio while
delivering the necessary force for deployment. The origami sheet is also
optimized to carry the maximum number of solar panels given space constraints.
We show how the folding of the "flasher" origami exhibits a bifurcation
behavior resulting in either a cone or disk shape both numerically and in
experiments. A folding strategy is devised to avoid the undesired cone shape.
The resulting design is entirely 3D printed, achieves an expansion ratio of
1000% in under 40 seconds, and shows excellent agreement with simulation
prediction both in the stowed and deployed configurations.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure
Bistable metamaterial for switching and cascading elastic vibrations
The realization of acoustic devices analogous to electronic systems, like diodes, transistors, and logic elements, suggests the potential use of elastic vibrations (i.e., phonons) in information processing, for example, in advanced computational systems, smart actuators, and programmable materials. Previous experimental realizations of acoustic diodes and mechanical switches have used nonlinearities to break transmission symmetry. However, existing solutions require operation at different frequencies or involve signal conversion in the electronic or optical domains. Here, we show an experimental realization of a phononic transistor-like device using geometric nonlinearities to switch and amplify elastic vibrations, via magnetic coupling, operating at a single frequency. By cascading this device in a tunable mechanical circuit board, we realize the complete set of mechanical logic elements and interconnect selected ones to execute simple calculations
Harnessing bistability for directional propulsion of soft, untethered robots
In most macroscale robotic systems, propulsion and controls are enabled through a physical tether or complex onboard electronics and batteries. A tether simplifies the design process but limits the range of motion of the robot, while onboard controls and power supplies are heavy and complicate the design process. Here, we present a simple design principle for an untethered, soft swimming robot with preprogrammed, directional propulsion without a battery or onboard electronics. Locomotion is achieved by using actuators that harness the large displacements of bistable elements triggered by surrounding temperature changes. Powered by shape memory polymer (SMP) muscles, the bistable elements in turn actuate the robot’s fins. Our robots are fabricated using a commercially available 3D printer in a single print. As a proof of concept, we show the ability to program a vessel, which can autonomously deliver a cargo and navigate back to the deployment point
Intrinsically Polar Elastic Metamaterials
In many applications, one needs to combine materials with varying properties to achieve certain functionalities. For example, the inner layer of a helmet should be soft for cushioning while the outer shell should be rigid to provide protection. Over time, these combined materials either separate or wear and tear, risking the exposure of an undesired material property. This work presents a design principle for a material that gains unique properties from its 3D microstructure, consisting of repeating basic building blocks, rather than its material composition. The 3D printed specimens show, at two of its opposing faces along the same axis, different stiffness (i.e., soft on one face and hard on the other). The realized material is protected by design (i.e., topology) against cuts and tears: No matter how material is removed, either layer by layer, or in arbitrary cuts through the repeating building blocks, two opposing faces remain largely different in their mechanical response
- …