Morphable Sheet Structure With Sliding Rod Pairs for Doubly Curved Shapes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing morphable sheet structures cannot achieve doubly curved shapes with non-zero Gaussian curvature in a precise and controllable manner, limiting their applications in flexible deformable systems such as soft robots, deployable constructions, and adaptive skins.
Innovation Solution
A morphable sheet structure composed of flexible rods with slidably connected pairs, allowing for bending and twisting along their longitudinal axis, enabling the transformation from flat or cylindrical shapes to doubly curved surfaces through controlled sliding movements between adjacent rods, while maintaining a continuous sheet structure and resisting traction and compression forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If elastic fibers are used to allow shear movement between parallel inelastic fibers, then the sheet structure can deform, but the distance between fibers changes causing area modification and inability to withstand traction or compression forces without deforming shape or size
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet structure is segmented into discrete rigid rods connected by articulators, allowing controlled deformation through joint movement while maintaining overall structural integrity. Each rod-articulator unit can deform independently while the continuous rod structure prevents unwanted area changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure combines rigid rod elements with flexible articulator elements to create a composite system that exhibits both deformability and shape stability. The rigid rods provide structural integrity and resistance to area change, while the flexible articulators enable controlled deformation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If parallel rods are connected through discrete inelastic collapsible bands, then the distance between rods can be modified by collapsing bands, but the structure becomes openworked rather than continuous
Solution Approach 1:
The articulators are designed as dynamic elements that can transition between extended and collapsed states, enabling continuous adjustment of rod spacing while maintaining structural continuity. The articulators move smoothly between positions rather than collapsing discretely.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulators serve as intermediary elements between rigid rods, providing a continuous connection that allows distance adjustment while preventing the structure from becoming openworked. The articulators mediate between the need for spacing control and structural continuity.
3Ease of manufacture
If rods are rigid or flexible only in one transverse direction, then the structure is simpler to manufacture, but it cannot deform into doubly curved shapes with non-zero Gaussian curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The articulators are designed with asymmetric geometry, having different flexibility characteristics in different transverse directions. This local differentiation of mechanical properties enables the structure to achieve doubly curved shapes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized asymmetric components.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure transitions from planar or singly curved configurations to doubly curved surfaces by utilizing the asymmetric flexibility of articulators in both transverse directions. This enables deformation in multiple dimensions simultaneously, achieving non-zero Gaussian curvature.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and controllable shape modification to achieve a wide range of doubly curved shapes, maintaining structural integrity under forces and allowing for various applications such as soft robotics, deployable structures, and adaptive skins without complex assembly or material requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the first connector and the second connector slidably movable to each other in the longitudinal axis direction
Data Source
AI summary
The proposed morphable sheet structure comprises a succession of adjacent flexible elongated rods (10) laterally connected to each other defining a sheet structure (1), each rod (10) defining a longitudinal axis (A); wherein the rods (10) are grouped in pairs, each pair of adjacent rods (10) are connected to each other through a first connector (11) tightly connected to a second connector (12) complementary with the first connector (11), being the first connector (11) part of one rod (10) of said pair of adjacent rods (10) and being the second connector (12) part of the other rod (10) of said pair of adjacent rods (10); being the first connector (11) and the second connector (12) slidably movable to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A); the first connector (11) and/or the second connector (12) extending along the entire longitude of the rod (10).