Responsive materials: a novel design for enhanced machine-augmented composites.
The concept of novel responsive materials with a displacement conversion capability was further developed through the design of new machine-augmented composites (MACs). Embedded converter machines and MACs with improved geometry were designed and fabricated by multi-material 3D printing. This technique proved to be very effective in fabricating these novel composites with tuneable elastic moduli of the matrix and the embedded machines and excellent bonding between them. Substantial improvement in the displacement conversion efficiency of the new MACs over the existing ones was demonstrated. Also, the new design trebled the energy absorption of the MACs. Applications in energy absorbers as well as mechanical sensors and actuators are thus envisaged. A further type of MACs with conversion ability, viz. conversion of compressive displacements to torsional ones, was also proposed.
Centre for Advanced Hybrid Materials, Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
Ehsan
E
Bafekrpour
Centre for Advanced Hybrid Materials, Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
Andrey
A
Molotnikov
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
James C
JC
Weaver
Phelma, INP Grenoble, Domaine Universitaire, St Martin d'Heres, France.
Yves
Y
Brechet
1] Centre for Advanced Hybrid Materials, Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia [2] Laboratory of Hybrid Nanostructured Materials, Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, Leninsky prosp. 4, Moscow 119049, Russia.
Yuri
Y
Estrin