Princeton engineers are twisting, stretching, and creasing structures in a unique way to create a new form of origami that can alter its shape and properties based on external stimuli. This groundbreaking method holds promise for applications in prosthetics, antennas, and other technological devices.
When faced with the challenge of fitting a device into a confined space, such as a spacecraft or a medical instrument, and then unfolding it into a complex shape, origami has often been the go-to solution. However, traditional origami designs are typically limited to a set number of patterns once the folds are made.
A team of researchers at Princeton, led by Glaucio Paulino, aimed to develop structures that could respond to external stimuli in a more versatile manner, rather than being restricted to predetermined responses. To achieve this goal, the team turned to a concept known as geometric frustration.
Geometric frustration involves preventing an origami-based structure from naturally folding and twisting in certain ways based on its material properties and geometry. By introducing this “frustration,” engineers can expand their design possibilities and create structures that exhibit unconventional behaviors.
In a recent publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers detailed how they integrated elastic components into cylindrical origami structures called Kresling cells. These elastic elements function like springs, allowing for precise control over the folding patterns of the cells that would not be achievable with traditional materials alone.
By strategically incorporating springs into the origami structures, designers can introduce internal energy through pre-stress, enabling the structures to exhibit unique responses. For instance, engineers can implement twisting springs to induce specific rotations or utilize axial springs to compress or elongate the structure.
Through the combination of frustrated cells in stacked arrangements, the researchers were able to develop materials with finely tuned properties like stiffness. This innovative approach opens up a myriad of possibilities, such as creating prosthetic limbs that can adjust their stiffness for different activities or designing adaptable metasurfaces for antennas and optics.
The team envisions a wide range of potential applications for this novel origami system across various industries. By integrating frustrated origami with dynamic materials and techniques, designers can create responsive and modular devices that can adapt to changing conditions, offering unparalleled flexibility and versatility in engineering solutions.
